classicsoncall Hard to believe this comedy special is over a decade old already. I saw it years ago and once again last night and it's just as funny as it was the first time. This show was taped in Santa Ana, California and the town takes a few hits courtesy of Dunham's opening bit with Walter, the old curmudgeon. What's really quite good is when Dunham goes off script to engage members of the audience, with Walter carrying on with someone who had to take a restroom break. Dunham's real talent shows through in the bit with Peanut and Jose, Jalapeno on a stick. When all three argue back and forth, with a bit of Spanish thrown in, it's rather amazing that Dunham doesn't miss a beat. His other characters appearing here included Sweet Daddy Dee and redneck Bubba J, and they're all hilarious. At times, it almost seems like the dummies are really talking, so engrossed one gets with the laugh lines. The only downside is some of the language Dunham employs, making this particular show unsuitable for family viewing.

moviesleuth2 Ventriliquism is an act of deception. The audience must believe that the puppets are actually talking instead of the puppeteer making voices. Unless the audience buys into it, nothing works. And Jeff Dunham is so skilled that it is near impossible to believe that this is a ventriloquist.That being said, "Jeff Dunham: Arguing with Myself" is nothing short of hysterical. The first time I watched it, I was nearly crying because I was laughing so hard. It may take up little more than an hour of time, but you're laughing heartily the whole way through.The performance opens up with Jeff doing a small roughly 5-7 minute routine. The little story that he tells is pretty funny, and sets up a running gag throughout the show. Dunham may be a ventriloquist, but he's still funny without them.First up is what is arguably his funniest doll (his most famous one, Achmed the Dead Terrorist, was created later), Walter. Walter is a cantankerous, foul-mouthed, wife hating old man who loves sarcasm and verbally abusing everyone, including certain audience members.Next up is Jeff's new agent, Sweet Daddy D, who Jeff suddenly realizes is a pimp, and considers Jeff to be his "ho." He's present in a few "backstage" scenes offering commentary, but on stage he's pretty funny.Unfortunately, after Walter and Sweet Daddy D, the level of hilarity decreases. There are still laughs to be had, but his remaining characters are just not as funny.Jeff's third character is Bubba J, a self-proclaimed redneck who married his cousin. A lot of the jokes revolve around this and his obviously low intelligence, but the gags are just too broad to be truly hilarious.Next up is Peanut, a creature from a Micronesean country that looks like some sort of bizarre minaret. He's like a hyperactive, but less intelligent Walter (including a similar voice). He's really only funny when he's paired up with Jose the Jalepeno...which is exactly what you'd think.Jeff Dunham is clearly talented. His jokes are hysterical, and the voices are so different from his own that it's hard to believe that he's creating them...especially while barely moving his mouth. What I really like is the interaction between himself and his puppets. The rapport that they have is crucial and makes a lot of the jokes funnier than they normally would be. Next to his puppets, Jeff acts meek, and often embarrassed, at the things his co-stars say. What's especially noteworthy about his puppets is that their faces are very versatile...their eyes and many of their facial features move, which adds to the hilarity.The unsung hero is Manny Rodriguez. Taping a stand up routine seems easy, but it's really not. Rodriguez is able to capture Jeff in the perfect frame: we can clearly see him and his puppets and read their emotions, but we can't see his lips move when he's voicing the puppets. He also knows the concept of comic timing, such as when he switches to the audience members reactions (and the scenes backstage).This is a raunchy, obscene and hilarious performance (the unbleeped version would definitely be rated R, although in my opinion it should squeak by with a PG-13 rating). If you want to laugh, check Jeff Dunham out!

chesapeake88-1 I don't know what qualifies as spoilers, so just in case. I watched this on Comedy Central late one night and rushed out to buy it the next day. It was amazingly funny, fresh and Jeff is very talented. My favorite puppet is a tie between Walter, the grumpy old man, and Peanut, the hyperactive, says-what-he-means monkey-thing. I definitely recommend this to anyone with a sense of humor. If you buy the DVD be sure to watch the outtakes, funny stuff there. This isn't just Uncle Dave freaking out the kids with his friend "Danny the Dummy", no this is high quality stuff. You can't help but think the words are coming out of the puppet's mouths. They each have such a personality it's hard not to fall in love with them all!

hteri44 Jeff makes you completely forget they're puppets!! And the way he interacts with them and the audience is great. When Walter gets upset because someone gets up to use the restroom, he says he'll just wait until he gets back. So Jeff just stands there with a look on his face that just cracks you up, because after a couple of seconds you remember that Walter is just a puppet.Being able to choose between the bleeped and non-bleeped version makes it a great family show, no matter what age. My 15 year old son loves it. My grand-daughters (4 and 5)can repeat the lines (from the bleeped version).I saw his show on Comedy Central, and found out when his DVD was to be released. I don't normally buy DVD's but I went all over town the day it was released looking for it. Found it, and have watched it over and over.I have bought copies and given them away, and plan on buying more.