Can We Take a Joke?
Samuel Goldwyn Films | Release Date: July 29, 2016 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
49
METASCORE
Mixed or average reviews based on 6 Critic Reviews
Positive:
2
Mixed:
2
Negative:
2
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
70
The Hollywood ReporterFrank ScheckJul 28, 2016
It's hard not to have mixed reactions while watching Ted Balaker's documentary Can We Take a Joke? about how political correctness is stifling free speech, particularly when it comes to satire and stand-up comedy. Read full review
63
Movie NationRoger MooreJun 22, 2016
More voices would have been nice, and just one person, on camera, defending the whole “safe space” where “hate speech” and “bullying” is banned on campuses is a grievous omission. Read full review
60
Los Angeles TimesMichael RechtshaffenJul 28, 2016
The film, narrated by comedian Christina Pazsitzky, raises some interesting observations about the climate on many of today’s college campuses, where the former havens for free speech (it’s noted that Bruce lectured at UCLA in 1966) have become especially vulnerable in regard to violated comfort zones. Read full review
50
The New York TimesNeil GenzlingerJul 28, 2016
The documentary Can We Take a Joke?, a one-sided look at a multisided issue, does a fine job of defending a comic’s right to perform incendiary material. It would be better if it also at least acknowledged the possibility that some jokes ought not be told. Read full review
38
RogerEbert.comMatt Zoller SeitzJul 29, 2016
The film will play well among standup comics who feel they've been muzzled by humorless slogan-spouting liberals, bluenoses and the generally squeamish. Read full review
30
Village VoiceChris PackhamJul 28, 2016
Ted Balaker's Can We Take a Joke? is a surprisingly self-righteous and unfunny documentary in which shelf-dated comedians spend 74 minutes misinterpreting the First Amendment to mean that behaving like an asshole should have no social consequences. Read full review
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