'Allah Made Me Funny' at Century Centre
"Allah Made Me Funny"
Three Muslim comedians perform their edgy stand-up routines in this standard HBO-like concert movie where no subject is taboo. Cops, President Bush, 9/11, terrorism. It's all part of the package as Mo Amer, Azhar Usman and Preacher Moss strip away prejudice and stereotypes like wallpaper, using humor as their Dif. Of the three, Usman earns the biggest laughs with the most universal appeal. But then, he's a Muslim from Skokie. Go figure. The routines work, but the expository background info feels like filler. Not rated, but contains mature subject matter. 83 minutes.
At the Century Centre, Chicago
"Home of the Giants"
Oscar-nominee Haley Joel Osment stars in Rusty Gorman's coming-of-age ethics drama about a high school newspaper reporter whose best pal may throw a state basketball championship at the behest of a powerful drug dealer. A Q&A with Gorman will be conducted after the screening. Go to midwestfilm.com.
6 p.m. Tuesday at the Century Centre Cinema in Chicago
"An American Carol"
Vivendi Entertainment has spiked press screenings for David Zucker's comical take on the classic story of Ebenezer Scrooge. So much for the distributor's confidence in the movie. At least the premise sounds funny. Scrooge is now a cocky, overweight, documentary filmmaker who looks just like Michael Moore of "Fahrenheit 9/11" fame. When he tries to abolish the Fourth of July, three American spirits show up at his doorstep to teach him a lesson or two in patriotism. Dennis Hopper, James Woods, Leslie Nielsen and Kelsey Grammer star. (PG-13) for language, drug use and rude humor. 83 minutes.
Starts today at area theaters