"THE LATIN LEGENDS OF COMEDY"
DVD Review
by Rachel Buccicone
| MOVIE: *1/2 (out of 5 stars)
DVD EXPERIENCE: * (out of 5 stars) STARRING JJ Ramirez as HIMSELF Joe Vegaas HIMSELF Angel Salazaras HIMSELF Not Rated Studio: Ray Ellin Productions Directed by: Ray Ellin Back to DVD Review Home |  |
Before “Mind of Mencia” and “The George Lopez Show,” there was Latin standup comedy. Before Mencia and Lopez had standup, there were the Latin “Legends” of comedy. This documentary features the three Hispanic comedians who were there when Latin comedy got its start.
Since it began in the early 1980s, Latin comedy has taken off in America. Back at its start, JJ Ramirez, Joe Vega, and Angel Salazar were paving the way. Ray Ellin’s documentary is a combination of standup performances and interviews with Ramirez, Vega, and Salazar. Their interviews discuss the history of Latin comedy as well as their personal history in and outside the realm of comedy.
The comedians give their historical accounts on the streets of New York. Their performances are held at The Comic Strip, the club in New York that helped the three get their start. The interviews provide background information that is of value, but the performances are mediocre.
Clearly, many of the jokes are only able to be understood by those who either have lived in Latin America or have immediate families who have. Both Ramirez and Vega felt the need to discuss airline travel which I believe we have all heard enough of in recent years. Salazar, on the other hand, with his “Check it Out” routine went too far with his fifteen-minute striptease. Now Salazar has acted in several movies including “Carlito’s Way” and “Scarface,” so perhaps this short, middle-aged comedian has followers that would enjoy this performance…maybe. Besides Joe Vega’s minor role in “Rounders”, neither Vega nor Ramirez has been filmed in anything other than this documentary. To me this indicates that these comedians are not as legendary as the DVD’s title would suggest.
The audience does seem to enjoy all three performances, but the majority of the audience is of Latin-American decent. The lengths to which Ray Ellin went to create this documentary are minimal. The performances he has taped all occurred on the same night in the same club. A common tactic of documentary filmmaking is providing information about the subjects in several atmospheres. The interviews were all conducted outdoors where the comics remain in one place and talk for about 10 minutes each. It seems clear to me that Ellin could have recorded this film all in one day. Additionally, that Ellin produced the film himself does not bode well where quality is concerned.
Overall, you may like this DVD if you REALLY like Latin comedy. For those with minimal interest in the subject, the poor quality of the filmmaking holds nothing for you. The DVD offers no bonus features, so don’t confuse this DVD with the Latin KINGS of Comedy; if you do, you’re sure to be sorry.
Specifications: Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound. Widescreen Format (1.85:1). English Language Track. English and Spanish Subtitles.
