Wisecracks

Canadian filmmaker Gail Singer provides some answers to the question of what constitutes feminist humor with WISECRACKS, a combination of filmed performances by various stand-up comics, archival footage of comediennes from the early days of film and TV, and interviews. With more than 24 female performers from America, Canada and Britain, WISECRACKS offers a general overview of feminist humor, from the subtle to the absurd. Singer attempts to make the interviews serve as commentary on the performances, but the disparate nature of the material--from Marie Dressler's silent film antics to Mae West's off-hand comments at a gala reception--does not make for a neat match...