by Jen Chaney
washingtonpost.com Staff Writer
Tuesday, January 24, 2006 12:00 AM

"The Aristocrats" (Not Rated; List price: $29.99)
Release Date: Jan. 24

Forget the Uncorked edition of "Wedding Crashers" or the unrated edition of "The Dukes of Hazzard." If you're looking for a DVD filled with uncensored filth, your search for smut begins and ends with "The Aristocrats."

Last year's buzz-generating documentary about an old joke frequently shared among comics features no nudity and no violence. It's all talk because that's what the movie is about: The many ways in which roughly 100 comedians deliver the same bit, one that involves a seemingly nice family walking into a talent agent's office and pitching an act called (wait for the punchline) the Aristocrats. The laughs come not from that final line, but from each comic's uniquely bizarre, grotesque and downright obscene approach to describing said family's routine.

Naturally, some viewers will get through maybe 20 minutes of this movie before they turn off the DVD player, throw away the disc and proceed to take a long, cleansing shower. Others will cackle their way through all 90 minutes of the film, then head straight for the DVD's substantial bonus features. Save yourself some time and decide which category you fall into before you bother renting or buying this. (Here's a hint: If you found "There's Something About Mary" unspeakably offensive and lewd, you may want to skip "The Aristocrats.")

A film based predominantly on repeating the same joke over and over can't help but get a little redundant. Some of the riffs are genius (see Sarah Silverman and a card trick-master named Eric Mead) while others lean toward the lackluster (see Emo Phillips). The same can be said of the bonus features, which include an occasionally diverting commentary track by director Paul Provenza and producer Penn Jillette; a skipable highlight reel; a "Behind the Green Room Door" featurette, in which some of the film's comedians share laugh-out-loud jokes unrelated to "The Aristocrats"; and 90 minutes of additional, often amusing footage from such comics as Silverman, Jon Stewart, Gilbert Gottfried and the shockingly twisted Bob Saget. Like many stand-up routines, a lot of this is hit or miss. But anyone who appreciates the art of telling a dirty joke will take great pleasure in sifting through it all to get to the good stuff.

Most Impressive Bonus Point: In the film, Kevin Pollak does a dead-on impression of Christopher Walken telling "The Aristocrats." In the extended footage, he becomes Albert Brooks, sounding remarkably similar to the neurotic star of "Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World." Even Pollak seems in awe of his Brooksian wit. "Literally, I'm listening to myself and saying 'Why am I never this funny?,'" he says at one point.

Weirdest Bonus Point: The makers of "The Aristocrats" held a contest in which regular people could submit their own versions of The Joke. Video of two winners are featured on the DVD, including one of a guy from Indianapolis who dresses up as a fake cartoon character named Flapjack and proceeds to tell the joke to random people on the street. It's difficult to decide what's funnier: The reactions of the clearly flummoxed twenty-somethings who don't know what to do when Flapjack starts crying, or the fact that Flapjack's facepaint makes him look an awful lot like Gene Simmons from Kiss.

Also New on DVD This Week: "Flightplan" and "Thumbsucker."

If you have feedback about "Bonus Points," e-mail Jen Chaney.