The Howard Stern Syndrome

Rating: 4/10 (1 January 2007)

It's really a shame that most of America will never realize what a comic genius Howard Stern was (and may still be). From about 1984 to 1988 Stern was the funniest man in America. From that point on he spiraled down, caught up in a self-destructive obsession with garbage and pushing the envelope on common decency. Plus Howard just got lazy. I see a little of the same phenomenon with Cohen. There's no disputing that portions of this movie are very inspired & outrageously funny. But Cohen goes over the decency line so many times it eventually became unwatchable. I have other problems with this movie - are we supposed to believe the other "actors" think this is a valid documentary? If they're not in on the joke it all seems pretty mean-spirited and makes me uncomfortable. If they're in on the joke then what's the point? I understand that "tasteless" in itself has its own mindless, Wet Hot American Summer market, but this is one movie I think might have benefited from some responsible studio oversight.