Goodnight, We Love You

Phyllis Diller, notable for her outrageous wigs and self-deprecating humor, recently retired from the rigors of touring with her standup show, and documentary filmmaker Gregg Barson was there to capture her final performance (the complete 43-minute act is featured as one of the DVD extras) in this tribute. Viewers will learn that Diller has hidden depths at odds with her comedy routine—she's actually a gourmet chef, not the culinary disaster she pretends to be onstage, as well as a perfectionist, attuned to every technical detail of her show. Interviews with her son and former assistants, as well as tributes from comics who've been inspired by Diller (including Roseanne Barr and Lily Tomlin) are combined to paint a loving, respectful, but also rather banal portrait that's more like a greeting card than a meaty profile. Diller's fans will enjoy it, however (along with the bonus interview with the star and a segment on Diller's traveling secretary), making this a strong optional purchase. Aud: P. (M. Johanson)