There’s a strong argument for Jimmy Carr being the funniest man in Britain. True, he’s very sadistic to audiences and almost cartoonishly smug — but you’ll be too busy wetting yourself to give a monkey’s about that. Jimmy Carr — Live, recorded at the Bloomsbury Theatre in London, consists almost entirely of lean one-liners, all impeccably delivered in supercilious Home Counties tones. At least 50 per cent of Carr’s punchlines are of the laugh-out-loud variety. "You’re ten times more likely to be mugged in London than New York," goes one. "That’s because you don’t live in New York." This quick-hit strategy might sound superficial, but it’s also high-risk because — without verbal padding — any weak points are immediately appa-rent. Not that the man’s worried: his reserves of quality gags appear to be bottomless. He is equally assured when he leaves the mike stand to unveil a series of classified ads (featured among a strong selection of extras) he placed in local newspapers. Imagine scanning the "Lost" section and finding an entry that reads: "Virginity. Yes! Get in!"

Further down the food chain, Al Murray’s Pub Landlord pulls the pints in A Glass of White Wine for the Lady, another session of faux-bigotry in which David Coulthard and the French are among his victims. More right-on souls might prefer Bill Bailey’s Part Troll, a veritable Glastonbury of cosmic conjecture, musical interludes and hairy geniality from the "Michael Bolton Star in their Eyes regional finalist, 1982".

Venturing overseas, we find a trio of Jacques Tati reissues, including the French slapstick maestro’s most perfect film, M Hulot’s Holiday (1953), along with Mon Oncle (1958) and Jour de Fête (1949). No less indispensable is Richard Pryor Live in Concert, a blitzkrieg of stand-up genius from 1971. The double pack also includes Stir Crazy (1980), the high-point of Pryor’s chequered film career. (ED POTTON)

Editor's choice

• The 100 Best Films of the Decade
• 70 facts you didn't know about Marvel
• The 50 Biggest Movies Of 2010