Review: Who can blame Phyllis Diller for hanging up the mike after 47 years of cracking one-liners about her dreary existence as a homemaker? Even into her mid-80s, the indomitable dame of comedy continued to hit the stage night after night, town after town. But tired of post-9/11 airport security measures, Diller called it quits in 2002. This brisk documentary, directed by Gregg Barson with wit and reverence, offers an immensely enjoyable backstage tour of Diller’s farewell show in Las Vegas. There’s nary a hint of bitterness nor sadness in Diller as she prepares for her last hurrah. She treats it like just another show, promising when she walks off the stage after her hour-long routine, that is that. And out she struts, wearing one of her trademark fright wigs and a short sparkly dress that even Tina Turner wouldn’t dare wear. And she slays her audience with her bawdy jokes about love, sex and marriage. She may not be as nimble as she once was, but her delivery remains surprisingly sharp and colorful. Barson doesn’t just zero in on the show. He introduces us to the so-called Phyllis Diller Dustbiters, the 30-plus travel secretaries the comic went through during life on the road. Then there is the visit to Diller’s home, which includes a welcome stop in her Wig Room. “I’ve outlived my hair,” she jokes during her show. Diller—and her headache-inducing laugh—never possessed the same universal qualities that made Lucille Ball or Carol Burnett household names. But you don’t have to be a fan to enjoy Goodnight, We Love You, which ultimately emerges as a crisp and unpretentious celebration of a life in comedy. More important, Diller comes across as a comedienne who loved her celebrity and is ready to enjoy the silence her retirement affords her. —Robert Sims