Thou Shalt Laugh

Hosted by Everybody Loves Raymond's Patricia Heaton, this standup comedy concert has a unique hook: the seven featured comedians are self-proclaimed Christians, and their humor—while occasionally mildly irreverent—maintains rigorous standards of decency. The jokes are family-friendly, relying on shrewd and funny observations instead of coarseness and profanity. The performers (described rather hyperbolically in publicity materials as “world class”) include Thor Ramsey, Michael Jr., Jeff Allen, Teresa Roberts Logan, Joby Saad, Gilbert Esquivel, and puppeteer Taylor Mason. By today's standards, their material is squeaky clean; in fact, there isn't anything here that would have been out of place in a comic's turn on The Ed Sullivan Show. And therein lies the problem: while many of the gags are clever, they don't seem all that fresh. For better or worse, standards in humor evolve, and these comedians—although bright and energetic—lack a certain topical edge inherent in many of today's most successful standup comics. DVD extras include outtakes, behind-the-scenes footage, and a featurette on Mason's puppets. A strong optional purchase. Aud: P. (E. Hulse)