In the hilarious new film LOOKING FOR COMEDY IN THE MUSLIM WORLD, comedian Albert Brooks gets summoned by politician/actor Fred Dalton Thompson to come to Washington D.C. to help in a new diplomatic effort.  His job?  Spend a month in India and Pakistan, write a 500 page report, and tell the U.S. government what makes the Muslims laugh.  While Brooks isn’t sure he’s the man for the job, the possibility of a Medal of Freedom proves irresistible and he accepts.

With the aid of two government agents, Stuart (John Carrol Lynch), Mark (Jon Tenney), and a lovely assistant, Maya (Sheetal Sheth), Brooks starts the interviewing process, as soon as he lands in India, asking everyone, “What makes you laugh?”  Since people aren’t as forthcoming as he would like, and when he discovers there are no comedy clubs in India or Pakistan that would help him observe, he decides to put on The Big Show, the first comedy concert in New Delhi.  He figures that by what the audience laughs at, he’ll get what he needs for his important government assignment. He figured wrong.  Undaunted, Brooks continues his quest, doing everything from a clandestine meeting with a group of Pakistani comedians, to a business meeting with Al Jezeera, all in the hopes of achieving his goal.

Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World provides an inspired and comedic view of America’s approach towards other cultures.  Written, directed by and starring Albert Brooks, the comedy also stars Sheetal Sheth, John Carroll Lynch, Jon Tenney, and Fred Dalton Thompson.Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World will have its World Premiere at the Dubai International Film Festival on December 15 and will officially open in North American theaters on January 20, 2006.

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