Aziz Ansari: Intimate Moments for a Sensual Evening
Paramount
Available Now

Comedy nerds will recognize Aziz Ansari as one of the stars of sketch-comedy show Human Giant or from his role on NBC's Parks and Recreation, but it was his breakout role as exasperating stand-up Randy in Funny People (and the ensuing viral videos) that introduced the comedian to the public.

In this hour-long Comedy Central special, Ansari proves himself as a perceptive stand-up with material on bed-sheet thread counts before launching into a more conversational style with stories about growing up in South Carolina, hanging out with Kanye West and messing with his teenage cousin on Facebook.

After Ansari wraps up his own act, he comes back as his Raaaaaandy! persona for a five-minute set which brilliantly sends up the one-trick-pony style of hyperactive comedians such as Dane Cook.

I Hope They Serve Beer In Hell
E1
Available Jan. 26

Judging from the title chosen for blogger Tucker Max's screenplay (based on his book of essays which detailed his encounters with women, the majority of them demeaning to the women involved), it's clear that he knows his sexist behavior is damning.

With this realization, Max should be able to gleam some life lessons from his sordid past. This horrid adaptation proves that this is not the case.

In true frat-boy non-humour, the majority of his stories often close with some sort of bodily function being spewed due to extreme drunkenness. Matt Czuchry plays Max as a lame-duck with even lamer friends - the soon-to-be-married Dan (Geoff Stults) and pale-faced geek Drew (Jesse Bradford).

The film then parts ways with Max and follows Dan as he gets himself into the usual R-rated trouble at a strip club where full hands-on touching is permitted. Misanthropic Drew, meanwhile - in a horrendously one-dimensional bit of geek wish fulfillment - finds the only girl in the place with a yen for video games. Of course, he takes her home for a game of Halo.

In the wake of other bachelor-party-gone-awry movies such as The Hangover, Max's tale leaves a bad taste in the viewer's mouth. It takes a certain amount of intelligence to portray politically incorrect behaviour onscreen successfully, and this trait is clearly missing from I Hope They Serve Beer In Hell.

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Jan. 26 - Whip It; Saw VI; Little Ashes; American Virgin; The Escapist.

Amanda Stefaniuk is a freelance writer who literally grew up in a video store.