The Phantom Tollbooth - Movies Reviews Index


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Home Subscribe About Us Features News Album Reviews Movie Reviews Past Movies Movie Resources Concert Reviews Book Reviews Top 10 Contact Us	Thou Shalt Laugh 4 (documentary) (DVD) Host: John Tesh with comics Rex Havens, Joe Wong, Dana Daniels, Michael, Jr., Isaac Witty and Taylor Mason Announcer: Erle Chase Director: Truett Hancock Grace Hill Media/Cooke Pictures/Rose Rock Films 99899-00146 No Rating but could be PG Running Length: 105 minutes If you have already seen Thou Shalt Laugh DVD’s 1-3, you will know what to expect. Clean entertainment and no profanity. If, like me, Number 4 is your introduction to this series, it is a fun experience. John Tesh, musician, is the host of this film and does a bit of story telling himself, between acts. However, it is the comics who are the stars of the show (filmed before a live audience in Texas) and they truly know their stuff. Ranging from Rex Havens who jokes about weddings to Joe Wong who jokes about being an immigrant in America, to ventriloquist Taylor Mason, there is something for everyone. Rex Havens takes auto names and embellishes their meaning from living in the city (The Metro) to the suburbs (Town Car) to beyond (Mercury and Saturn.) Joe Wong tells of getting his driver’s license and deciding to be an organ donor. “What if the recipient suddenly sat up and started talking Chinese???” Dana Daniels works with a bird named Luigi and does audience participation. Your five minutes of fame would include standing next to a feathered bird and having a paper peak on your nose. Michael, Jr. does his routine with a touch of the street and asks about Jesus' little brother James. Michael, Jr. then goes on about the impossibility of ever becoming like your Big Brother. Isaac Witty does a rural routine, complete with plaid shirt and jeans, while Taylor Mason works with not one, but three puppets as part of his ventriloquism act. There is Paco the Mexican pig, Romeo who likes the ladies and Timmy, the Dude. Mason ends his act by playing the piano Jerry Lee Lewis-style. All in all, this DVD moves fast, is clean entertainment, and can be seen several times because so much is going on, you may miss something. It is also a study for up-and-coming comics as to various routines and styles. Enjoy. Copyright 2009 Marie Asner