If you are looking for insight into the guy behind the Vince Vaughn mask, you are not going to find it here.

This film is a documentary highlighting the awesome opportunity four comedians were given in 2005 — to tour 30 cities in 30 nights with Vaughn and an ensemble of other comedic actors. Audiences gain backstage access to the guys’ preparation, tour bus pranks, emotional ups and downs of a vigorous schedule, and how they dealt when confronted with the effects of Hurricane Katrina.

Even though the word “documentary” would turn many theatregoers away, they should first know this is not your typical doc. The important difference is accomplished through the inclusion of footage of the guys’ routines. They are genuinely funny and the humour keeps the tempo of the film up. Even so, it is a little longer than it needs to be. Do we really have to see every city they visited?

Vaughn handpicked the four men from the world famous Comedy Store in Los Angeles. Each comic has his own style and each is entirely different from the other. John Caparulo reminds me of Bobby Hill (from the television series King of the Hill) with his acerbic humour; Sebastian Maniscalco is a metrosexual with observations and advice for the men in attendance; Bret Emst is a self-proclaimed Guido with masculine views on male-female relations; and Ahmed Ahmed is an Arab who uses his nationality and the stereotypes that accompany it for material.

Inspired by the variety shows of old, Vaughn set out to assemble his troupe and plan a tour covering 6,000 miles in the heartland of America. He wanted to bring his style of comedy to those who normally would not have the opportunity to see it. However, as we are shown, it is not just about the stand-up; Vaughn and his cast of players also do sketch comedy and improv, some of which even requires audience volunteers. In addition to the four comics mentioned, Vaughn also asked along former co-stars Justin Long, Keir O’Donnell and Peter Billingsley.

Like most of the world, I missed the comedy tour but it sure looked like a show worth seeing. Maybe there will be extended footage on the DVD. Then again, there is one advantage to seeing this film in theatres — laughing with a group of strangers as if you had been there.

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