As with any “brand” of comedy, so-called Christian comedy is a mixed bag.  It either strikes you as funny, or it doesn’t.

But if you’ve screened collections like the Thou Shalt Laugh series of DVD releases, or The Apostles of Comedy, or even Allah Made Me Funny, you know that comedy aimed at a religious audience is at least refreshingly free of sexual humor—and it’s tougher for that choice, because the subject of sex always generates nervous laughter.  Jokes aimed at the lowest common denominator have a leg up on the competition.

One of the hard-working comics featured in the Thou Shalt Laugh series is Michael Jr., a tall professional whose quick-witted deadpan working-stiff approach has been featured on mainstream late-night talk shows.  If you’re not paying attention, you’ll miss some of his jokes—and even if you do, a lot of them may still go over your head.  He’s one of those guys it’s good to watch with other people, so their reactions can help clue you in to the complexities of his gags.

As part of his touring, as Michael Jr. explains in his feature-length documentary Comedy: The Road Less Traveled, he noticed that comedy seems most often enjoyed by the leisure class—while in fact laughter is most therapeutic for those in hardship or pain.  As a result, he set out to find a way to bring his work to audiences normally deprived of such therapy: prison inmates, recovering addicts, disabled children, the homeless.

I won’t say much about what you’ll find in this film other than to remark that you’ll probably laugh a lot—and shed more than a couple of tears.  The climax of the film, which comes while Michael Jr. performs at a home for abused children, is particularly moving.  You won’t mind at all that the film has a very do-it-yourself low-budget home-brew feel.

This is “Christian” at its best, whether that adjective is applied to literature, film, comedy, or social action.  James, the brother of Jesus, described “pure religion” as caring for the needy, the orphans, the widows, the downtrodden.  When Jesus began his ministry, he declared that he came to set the captives free.  Whenever we minister to others in the way that Michael Jr. does here—and continues to do, given the success of his documented experiment in comedy—we fulfill the ideals of James’ religion and Jesus’ ministry.  We become a part of what the Apostle Paul called “the ministry of reconciliation.” We truly become God’s ambassadors.

After a run of test screenings and advance publicity to media outlets and opinion-makers, Michael Jr. has secured distribution channels for his DVD.  If you are at all inclined to comedy and/or a vision of the practice of religion at its finest, do yourself a favor and track down a copy.  Michael Jr.’s ministry is well worth supporting.

Comedy: The Road Less Traveled is unrated.  Don’t let that worry you a bit!  But be advised that Michael Jr. hangs with convicts, AIDS victims, and the homeless.  If that’s not suitable for your children… I guess Jesus isn’t either.

Courtesy of a national publicist, Greg screened a promotional copy of Comedy: The Road Less Traveled.