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Brick Wall Comedy
Brick Wall Comedy

All Over the Map

Jeff Dunham

Comedy Central · 2014 · 83 min

A five-continent comedy tour with a trunk full of puppets.

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Ventriloquism is a very specific format, but Jeff Dunham spent 2014 hauling his foam cast across five continents to see how well it travels. All Over the Map functions as a hybrid travelogue and stand-up broadcast, capturing a massive global tour where the novelty lies in seeing how different cultures react to American trailer park stereotypes and a grumpy retiree. The focus is less on a single cohesive hour of new material and more on the sheer logistical scale of taking puppets on an international road trip.

Filmed across ten countries including Iceland, the United Arab Emirates, Israel, and South Africa, the special highlights the friction of exporting comedy. When Malaysian officials demanded the removal of Achmed the Dead Terrorist due to religious sensitivities, Dunham simply swapped the skeleton’s turban for a beret and renamed him Jacques Merde.

Arriving after a string of highly successful DVD releases for Comedy Central, the broadcast shows a comic at the peak of his touring stamina. Walter, Bubba J, and Peanut run through their familiar routines in front of distinctly different crowds, testing which premises work in London versus Abu Dhabi.

The set list

5 bits

  1. Achmed pitches an IKEA slogan while performing in Norway.

    Dunham points out that IKEA is Swedish rather than Norwegian, prompting Achmed to deliver his catchphrase adaptation: 'IKEA'l you!'

  2. Achmed modifies his catchphrase for Scottish audiences.

    Adapts 'I keel you!' into the Scottish-themed pun 'I kilt you!'.

  3. Censorship in Malaysia bans Achmed the Dead Terrorist and references to religion, sex, and politics.

    Dunham circumvents the ban by outfitting Achmed with a beret and mustache, introducing him as Achmed's French cousin 'Jacques Merde'.

  4. Walter acts unimpressed by international tour locations.

    Walter sits with furrowed brow and crossed arms, delivering cynical sarcasm and mocking Jeff whenever local trivia is brought up.

  5. Bubba J visits Ireland, Scotland, and Australia.

    The beer-swilling character focuses almost entirely on his excitement for drinking alcohol across foreign countries.

How it plays

Tone
Irreverent, satirical, un-PC, and observational.
On stage
Ventriloquist acting as the ringleader and straight man against a lineup of eccentric, politically incorrect puppet personas.
Pace
Fast-moving hybrid format that cycles briskly through short stand-up clips from each international tour stop combined with travelogue interludes.
About
international travel and cultural differences, universal humor, foreign government censorship and local taboos, marriage and aging, beer and redneck culture, terrorism satire

What the critics said

Praised for Dunham's technical ventriloquism skill and clever localization of material for foreign audiences, though critics noted the travelogue segments were somewhat shallow and the jokes occasionally leaned on familiar, formulaic stereotypes.

In the room: Raucous, sold-out arena crowds across disparate global settings (such as Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv) howling with laughter and warmly embracing the puppet characters.

Summed up from reviews, articles and listings. Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com, letterboxd.com, netflix.com, cphpost.dk, upcomingdiscs.com, variety.com, musicrecallmagazine.com, bostonherald.com.

Backstory

Filmed during an extensive global arena tour across five continents and 12 countries, including stops in the Middle East, Europe, South Africa, and Southeast Asia, navigating strict foreign censorship rules and cultural barriers.

Details

Released
Runtime
83 min
Where
Comedy Central
Director
Rob Dipple
Topics
Before
Minding the Monsters (2012)
After
Unhinged in Hollywood (2015)

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