Among all the comedies available today, the Blue Collar Comedy Tour DVD ranks number one in the "must see" category. Few comedians can find an audience among a broad range of demographic groups, and with varying tastes among individuals, it's quite difficult to find universally entertaining people. But Blue Collar Comedy Tour showcases four stand-up comics of such ability. The stand-up routines are filmed in Phoenix with intermittent features on the exploits of each of the men as they travel the country on their popular comedy tour. Opening up with all four men fishing in a lake, amazingly even the conversations between these men are hilarious and entertaining. What then could we expect when they take the stage? Only the best of modern redneck, working man comedy...

One of the rising stars of stand-up, Ron White brandishes his liquor and tobacco drenched persona along with a loveable sarcasm to produce one of the better comic routines of the decade. White chronicles his 9-minute plane ride to Phoenix which almost ended in tragedy when the plane was forced to turn around in mid-flight due to equipment trouble. But the event didn't phase the alcohol-induced outlook of White who advises the passenger next to him (a man who has something to live for, unlike White) that if one engine goes out, the other will take them right to the scene of the crash. And to top it off, they'll beat the paramedics by thirty minutes...

White's act is well followed by Larry The Cable Guy, a redneck's redneck who lives by the catchphrase "Get 'r done!" Speaking in a redneck dialect that borders on another language, Larry The Cable Guy is a barrel of laughs for any American who loves apple pie. Providing unique insight into the world at large, his audience is presented with the great conundrum of the dog dish water purifier (among other things). Why should he buy a water purifier for an animal that eats its own crap? If you're unfamiliar with this guy's routine, you need to pick up a copy of the Blue Collar Comedy Tour DVD just for him alone (or for that matter - any of these comics merit a full-length DVD by themselves).

Beginning the second half of the movie is Bill Engvall, a comic who takes a more well-spoken, family man approach to his routine. I first saw Bill on The Tonight Show when I was ten years old. He delivered the best stand-up routine I've ever seen, and I still remember much of it word-for-word to this day... Central to the routine was his trademark tagline "Here's your sign" (referring to a "stupid sign" handed out to people who make dumb remarks). Just like his colleague Jeff Foxworthy, Engvall has managed to keep that tagline not only going, but while inventing a hilarious treasure trove of new material. This guy is just plain funny...

Rounding out the final one-man routine is Jeff Foxworthy, perhaps the most famous of the crowd due to his widely promoted "you might be a redneck if..." jokes. Foxworthy starts off with a standard routine that's really funny (this part of his career has been widely overlooked), but then he naturally moves into the part of the routine that people love to hear - the redneck jokes. My favorite of the whole Blue Collar Comedy Tour DVD is his line "If a beaver bites off your nipple, you might be a redneck". Based on a true story, you simply have to watch Blue Collar Comedy Tour in order to understand just how hilarious that one is...

But the funniest part of the Blue Collar Comedy Tour DVD is when all the comics are finished with their individual routines and they gather together on stage to tell personal stories to the audience. Each story keeps the belly laughs rolling, and each comic has his moments, but Ron White steals this part of the show with his "tater salad" story. Recounting the story of his recent drunk in public arrest (he was actually drunk in the bar - they threw him into public), White tells the tale of his rise from a small town in Texas to a life replete with criminal aliases such "tater salad" and his fathering of a child named "tater tot". You just have to it to really enjoy it!

With a host of talented funnymen, the Blue Collar Comedy Tour DVD is grade-A entertainment. Certain to be an enduring classic for years to come, this is one comedy film you don't want to miss...

The DVD Report

Of the four featured comics, I was only familiar with Foxworthy (hard to miss him on TV). I only gave this dvd a mildly supportive rating, since the first two comics, Ron White, and Larry the Cable Guy were really quite funny and easily held up their end of the foursome. However, the other two were noticeable drop-offs. Foxworthy was especially disappointing. He did not do his regular routine of "Ya know yur a redneck if..." A few of these jokes were only done by audience members waiting to enter the theatre. Those redneck jokes told by the audience were funnier than Foxworthy's set. I also noticed that he was the least funny one of the four when on camera for the improvisational sections of the movie (at a mall, at a health spa, etc.). I'm guessing that since he has other videos on his redneck jokes, he was not allowed by contract to those other productions to perform the jokes on this movie. So the audience might have heard the jokes, but that part was cut from the movie.

there was some moments from this comedy performance that worked. Larry the Cable Guy cracked me up the most. Jeff Foxworthy had some moments has well.Bill got going with the "Sign" jokes. Ron White was cool with His Opening&Vibe. I'd give this about a 3&Half it was a trip in some spots.cool seeing David Allen Grier rolling with the Cats.

I watched the Blue Collar Comedy Tour at my boyfriend's house. The collaberation of these guys is awesome! I laughed to the point I wiped tears. Then I left his house and went out and bought it for myself. If you like redneck humor you will love this DVD. If you think redneck humor is retarded then don't buy it. This DVD shines a light on the ignorant bliss of certain southerners lives.

Friendship is essential to making a troupe like this work, and from the short clips intermingled between their stand-up it is obvious that these four comedians have been around for a very long time. They have been telling each other jokes as well as building off each other in hopes to better themselves and provide quality entertainment for their audiences. This is shown with the last couple of minutes of their performances when they all come out and interact with each other and the audiences. This provides for some of the funnier moments of the film. Just to see them talking to each other, laughing at their jokes, and building a continual friendship makes the audience laugh more, Jen and I laugh more, as well as showing us this human side to these soothsayers of day-to-day activities.

This was a very entertaining program to watch on a night where comedy was definitely needed to lighten the spirits. These four guys are masters of their domain, and while Bill Engvall is our least favorite of them (he just delivers too quickly and less redneck), we still find ourselves laughing all together. We cannot wait to get our hands on more of Larry the Cable Guy's material and see where he finds the humor in our lives. Speaking of Larry the Cable Guy, my wife and I were talking about how we think his entire act is just an act. He is not as redneck as he talks, but instead is building his reputation on it. If this is true, I am very impressed. Here he is building his bank account using a voice that is not uncommon here in the Mountains of Virginny. Also, we were very impressed with Ron White, whom we had never heard before. His humor is sharp and dark at the same time. He had my wife rolling on the floor with laughter during 95% of his act. That is very impressive. I cannot knock Foxworthy, but if you have ever heard any of his stand-up, you have heard his stand-up. It hasn't changed that much from when I heard him several years ago. While I still laughed at his jokes, I did think that he may need to revamp some of his material ... especially his ultra-classic "You Might Be A Redneck If..." material.

Overall, we were very impressed with this program and immediately ran out the next night to get the sequel to hear ourselves laugh again and again. Whether you are a redneck, hate rednecks, or just need something to laugh at, this is for you. It was a very impressive outing for these guys, and an enjoyable evening for the house. We loved it.

Grade: **** out of *****