The Axis of Evil Comedy Tour (2008 Video) User Reviews

A very funny show, walah

[lyphe2000 · 9/10 · 23 May 2007]

Funny, really funny. Being middle-eastern myself I think allowed me to enjoy this so much more. I've watched Catholic and Jewish comedians tell jokes about their religion and cultural upbringing but was never really able to get that into it because I'm not familiar with those experiences first-hand. But finally, middle-eastern comics perform and tell jokes about middle-eastern style culture and such. Not that someone that isn't Arabic can't enjoy this but it helps just as it helps hearing Catholic comics joke about how dull they think church is.

For instance, when he made the joke about a pill called Arab-B-Gone or something, he mentioned that you'd stop calling your friends "habibi" which is Arabic for my love. Normally, I don't think someone that isn't middle-eastern would get that and laugh as I did.

Now of course, it's not all just about their middle-eastern life but they tackle the issue of terrorism and prejudice. Now, hearing about this I thought they'd be a disgrace and just do "Hey look, I'm a terrorist!" joke to try to appeal to American audience. Thankfully, I was wrong. They did do a few terrorist jokes but didn't sell themselves out for the sake of the joke. Last thing I have to say is that I'm so glad to see middle-eastern comics perform. I've seen a lot of black, white, Chinese, Indian and Latin comics while praying for stand up from a middle-eastern. I really hope this special inspires more middle-eastern comics.

Brilliant

[HeedZ · 8/10 · 31 May 2007]

These guys are really hilarious as they take up the issues of being an American Muslim. I don't want to spoil anything so I won't mention any specific jokes, but since their roots are from different parts of the middle east they do not pinpoint the same things and they are _not_ afraid of making clowns out of themselves.

These days it must be very hard to be a Muslim in a country that are in war and conflicts with Muslim countries and maybe will be for ages.

They do not make political statements, just jokes about being a Muslim in the U.S.

I don't know how the average Joe in the U.S. take these jokes, but I am a Swedish average Joe and I laughed plenty.

The show is not only about being Muslim in the U.S.

It's about being a Muslim in general and they pinpoint some very funny thing about themselves, for example the differences between being Iranian and Arab.

Of course there are serious issues behind, but these guys are very good at hiding the sad side of the story, and that's good, they make it obvious anyhow.

These issues are serious, but if you can't joke about them, they will never go away, they are killing the taboos totally.

Go see them live if you have the chance, I saw them on DVD since I am Swedish, highly recommended.

Great show!!!

[williwombat1066-1 · 10/10 · 18 September 2007]

I saw them and they were great at the DC's Warner Theatre. I'm not Middle Eastern, I'm not Muslim, I am an Average Joe whose learned very little Arabic and I pretty much "got" most of the humor. Some of it had some cultural references nuances that were unfamiliar, but most of it was understandable.

Essentially it's a comedy tour about not so much about politics, but mostly about the Arab-American / Middle Eastern immigrant experience. The immigrant experiences has been done by everybody else so why not this group.

And thank God that they did! It was funny and also insightful to their culture. These guys were excellent comedians they made their point. Ahmed Ahmed was the best with his present-day and childhood recollection "Please go the store..." Hilarious!

In retrospect I'd have to say that as much as Westerners find it a fashionable to criticize other cultures, I'd say that perhaps it they who are wearing the burkas made of that delicate and woven fabric called ignorance. See this video and if you can catch the act in your city, go out and see them. It's good entertainment and good insight to other cultures.