With Christmas Present lists being fast drawn up and the movie and entertainment companies rolling out their big hitters for Christmas to get your hard earned cash, there is one section that always rolls out several releases for the festive period, namely the Comedy DVDs.
What you have here is a plethora of stand up DVDs of which dependant on your style of comedy may be very hit or miss, so we here at Screen One have taken it upon oursleves to get a bunch of them and go throught them to help you may be choose what suits you. From Jimmy Carr to the Big Yin have a browse through and see what may be on its way to a Christmas stocking near you soon.
With the comedy big hitters in Lee Evans & Michael McIntyre are not releasing and new material for
DVDs (Both have complete discologies out) the field is wide open for some new contenders to get their share of the comedy pie.Jimmy Carr - Making People Laugh
Jimmy Carr, presenter of 8 out of 10 cats releases his latest offering which was taken from his tour earlier in the year and this particular concert in Glasgow. Rather than monologuing style, Jimmy prefers to tell straight jokes such as:
‘When I was a kid I wanted a tattoo, but my parents said I had to get it done somewhere where it didn’t matter. So I had it done in Hull'
'Liverpool is the only place where JD Sports has it's only Eveningwear section'
and the such like. In fact a lot of Jimmy's style is actually borderline racist at best as he takes the opening portion of his show taking pot shots at the Scottish and individual members of the audience. But then if your a fan of Jimmy, then there's something to like here. He's certainly not the worst pick of the litter, but is nowhere near the top either.
Clown Rating: **
Rhod Gilbert - The Cat That Looked Like Nicholas Lyndhurst
Rhod Gilbert is an enigma when it comes to stand up. He comes from this new wave of AYM comedy (Angry Young Man), which in his case is done in a self depreciating manner. His entire routine sets up one big joke which is rolled into the routine very early on and while venting his anger at buying sofas and wachine machines is pretty funny if the truth be told. He manages to revolve the story around a fan stalker he has who turns up at every gig he does with a present which represents the tour he is doing, hence the title of this tour so he could finally lay waste to the stalker.
Having never encountered Gilbert or his stand up before, despite the angry shouting style he is pleasantly self depreciating and his observations are spot on, if a little middle of the road, but he winds (Himself) up into a crescendo with the big payoff. If you've not tried Rhod before, here's not a bad place to start.
Clown Rating: ****
Jethro - I Told It My Way
Jethro is one of the Old School stand ups who was at his peak back in the 80's when there was the likes of Bernard Manning, Roy Chubby Brown and Jim Davidson doing the rounds. Jethro was seen as the slightly less naughty option. A very twee style of the innocent country bumpkin that uses bad language, this is taken from many stops on his tour around the country. He also like Carr is a more Joke telling style which features such simple classics as:
'Why do divers fall backwards? Because if they fell forwards they'd still be in the boat'
The crowds that he pulls pale in comparrison to some of the big hitters on show here as they tend to be filmed from small theatres rather than the Lodon stages or stadium venues that you see some of the others in. It doesn't make him any less funny however. Probably one for the older audience (as in your dad or granddad) as to be honest Jethro's stle is still in the 80's.
Clown Rating: *** WIN A COPY OF THE JETHRO DVD BOXSET HERE
Ricky Gervais - Science
Ricky Gervais. Still despite a couple of awful attempts at cracking Hollywood is the flavour of the month. Packing out stadiums and arenas worldwide, the Gervais bandwagon rolls onto DVD with his latest acerbic offering Science.
Basically Mr Gervais is living out the persona of his character David Brent on stage doing stand up. He is the comedy equivalent of Marmite. You are either going to love him or hate him and we fall down on the side of hating him here. Hi smug grin and trite jokes which are 'comically' aimed at the public, but you know that Gervais actually not elling the jokes but imparting his personal mantra. Ego stroking and downright unfunny. I think this DVD raised a smile once throughout the entire 90 minutes.
That said though there are obviously legions of Gervais fans and they are sure to lap this up with everything else he does. However one day people will realise that a career built on a 30 second 'silly dance' doesn't mean he's actually any good. Which while that may be overharsh he's not the worst of this years offerings....
Clown Rating: *
Frankie Boyle - If I Could Reach Out Through Your TV And Strangle You I Would.
Not very often would we discourage anyone from getting a DVD, but this has to be the exception to the rule. Frankie Boyle takes 'comedy' to an all new low level of humour. No-one or anything is safe. For the sake of decency I will not be reprinting any of his 'jokes' in this section, but his is another show that like Jimmy Carr where he opens with insulting the audience. However this is not just banter this is quite simply nasty. Most of his barbs refer to his fans being Paedo's for the most part and the fun continues.
Throughout his monologue he takes pot shots at people and his audience are seen to be rolling around at his brilliant humour. Unfortunately I didn't get it. I found it in poor taste at best and certainly didn't laugh once. If it wasn't for the fact that I was reviewing this DVD I would have turned it off inside of the first 15 minutes.
Frankie says of his material that he doesn't care as this is his last ever stand up tour so he can do and say whatever the f*** he wants. Well thanks for that Frankie and thank goodness we won't be seeing anymore of this highly offensive drivel.
Clown Rating: ZERO
Russell Howard - Good News Best of Series 1
Well this one is kind of a cheat. It's not strictly a stand up DVD. It's Russell Howards BBC Three TV Series Good News, a best of compilation which features him doing his routines during the programme.
While it's centred on current events, becuase it's a best of the events are in the past and some of the jokes may sail over the causal audiences heads, especially if they are not up to date with current affairs in 2009 early 2010.
Very light hearted and also very funny. Howards amicable style comes across like he is your best mate or cool brother. His quips are spot on without being to outrageous. Still not one for all the family although obviously coming from a TV show the delivery is very watered down, also maybe not cutting edge enough for others, but he's definetly one to watch for the future.
Clown Rating: ***
Billy Connolly - Live in London 2010
The past master returns to the London part of his tour for another run at Stand Up. Billy has become known for many other things over recent years including Comic Relief and streaking through Picadilly Circus, but here he gets back to what he's best at here, which is performing in front of a live audience.
Billy though comes across rather weathered and delivers a set that is akin to Victo Meldrew. With his his stories of dealing with modern technology, his children and dealing with waning popularity to rock concerts. He does come across quite bumbling at times and forgets his train of thought more than once. Despite this though Billy's stand up is always worth watching, although it's not a patch on arguably his greatest moment which was Live at The Royal Albert Hall in 1987. That is a stand up comedian at the peak of his powers and that still stands up to this day.
Clown Rating: ***
Joan Rivers - A Piece Of Work
Joan Rivers is again like Billy Connolly one of the best ever Stand Ups in the business, here though we get a year in the life of Joan (The year of her 75th Birthday no less) and we get to see how she is dealing with not being in the spotlight so much in the Twilight years of her career (Although don't tell her I said that!). Featuring her putting together her touring show for the UK and select moments of her current stand up routine it is a facinating glimpse into the world of a comedy master.
From her office where she has simply thousands of jokes filed away like a libriarian in draws to her discussing the fact that her diary is not as full as it once was. Then she gets a chance to shine once more with her winning the US version of The Apprentice but even she realises that this moment in the spotlight won't last. The only worry is that despite some very colourful dialogue this DVD has been released as E i.e. unrated, so be careful before getting this for your nan as it still has the ability to shock. But the irrepressible Joan Rivers lives on here and in some style. Essential.
Clown Rating: *****
So overall here there is somethign for everyone this Christmas and we haven't covered everyone here either as there also releases for Jason Mamford, Lee Mack, Tim Vine, Stephen K. Amos, John Bishop & Peter Kay.
We couldn't cover everything and didn't have enough space to, but we would recommend that out of the rather large pile of humour bombs that get Joan Rivers, Rhod Gilbert & Peter Kay's offerings. Avoid at all costs however Frankie Boyles effort unless you enjoy being offended.
So there you have it. We hope that this is helpful to you if you choose to try for something new and funny this holiday season. We will be bvack with another column soon but until then don't forget to check out the Website, Forum and Follow us on Factebook and Twitter (Links Below). Until next time thanks for reading!
Screen One: WEBSITE FORUM FACEBOOK TWITTER
'Liverpool is the only place where JD Sports has it's only Eveningwear section'
and the such like. In fact a lot of Jimmy's style is actually borderline racist at best as he takes the opening portion of his show taking pot shots at the Scottish and individual members of the audience. But then if your a fan of Jimmy, then there's something to like here. He's certainly not the worst pick of the litter, but is nowhere near the top either.
Clown Rating: **
Rhod Gilbert - The Cat That Looked Like Nicholas LyndhurstRhod Gilbert is an enigma when it comes to stand up. He comes from this new wave of AYM comedy (Angry Young Man), which in his case is done in a self depreciating manner. His entire routine sets up one big joke which is rolled into the routine very early on and while venting his anger at buying sofas and wachine machines is pretty funny if the truth be told. He manages to revolve the story around a fan stalker he has who turns up at every gig he does with a present which represents the tour he is doing, hence the title of this tour so he could finally lay waste to the stalker.
Having never encountered Gilbert or his stand up before, despite the angry shouting style he is pleasantly self depreciating and his observations are spot on, if a little middle of the road, but he winds (Himself) up into a crescendo with the big payoff. If you've not tried Rhod before, here's not a bad place to start.
Clown Rating: ****
Jethro - I Told It My WayJethro is one of the Old School stand ups who was at his peak back in the 80's when there was the likes of Bernard Manning, Roy Chubby Brown and Jim Davidson doing the rounds. Jethro was seen as the slightly less naughty option. A very twee style of the innocent country bumpkin that uses bad language, this is taken from many stops on his tour around the country. He also like Carr is a more Joke telling style which features such simple classics as:
'Why do divers fall backwards? Because if they fell forwards they'd still be in the boat'
The crowds that he pulls pale in comparrison to some of the big hitters on show here as they tend to be filmed from small theatres rather than the Lodon stages or stadium venues that you see some of the others in. It doesn't make him any less funny however. Probably one for the older audience (as in your dad or granddad) as to be honest Jethro's stle is still in the 80's.
Clown Rating: *** WIN A COPY OF THE JETHRO DVD BOXSET HERE
Ricky Gervais - Science
Ricky Gervais. Still despite a couple of awful attempts at cracking Hollywood is the flavour of the month. Packing out stadiums and arenas worldwide, the Gervais bandwagon rolls onto DVD with his latest acerbic offering Science.
Basically Mr Gervais is living out the persona of his character David Brent on stage doing stand up. He is the comedy equivalent of Marmite. You are either going to love him or hate him and we fall down on the side of hating him here. Hi smug grin and trite jokes which are 'comically' aimed at the public, but you know that Gervais actually not elling the jokes but imparting his personal mantra. Ego stroking and downright unfunny. I think this DVD raised a smile once throughout the entire 90 minutes.
That said though there are obviously legions of Gervais fans and they are sure to lap this up with everything else he does. However one day people will realise that a career built on a 30 second 'silly dance' doesn't mean he's actually any good. Which while that may be overharsh he's not the worst of this years offerings....
Clown Rating: *
Frankie Boyle - If I Could Reach Out Through Your TV And Strangle You I Would.Not very often would we discourage anyone from getting a DVD, but this has to be the exception to the rule. Frankie Boyle takes 'comedy' to an all new low level of humour. No-one or anything is safe. For the sake of decency I will not be reprinting any of his 'jokes' in this section, but his is another show that like Jimmy Carr where he opens with insulting the audience. However this is not just banter this is quite simply nasty. Most of his barbs refer to his fans being Paedo's for the most part and the fun continues.
Throughout his monologue he takes pot shots at people and his audience are seen to be rolling around at his brilliant humour. Unfortunately I didn't get it. I found it in poor taste at best and certainly didn't laugh once. If it wasn't for the fact that I was reviewing this DVD I would have turned it off inside of the first 15 minutes.
Frankie says of his material that he doesn't care as this is his last ever stand up tour so he can do and say whatever the f*** he wants. Well thanks for that Frankie and thank goodness we won't be seeing anymore of this highly offensive drivel.
Clown Rating: ZERO
Russell Howard - Good News Best of Series 1Well this one is kind of a cheat. It's not strictly a stand up DVD. It's Russell Howards BBC Three TV Series Good News, a best of compilation which features him doing his routines during the programme.
While it's centred on current events, becuase it's a best of the events are in the past and some of the jokes may sail over the causal audiences heads, especially if they are not up to date with current affairs in 2009 early 2010.
Very light hearted and also very funny. Howards amicable style comes across like he is your best mate or cool brother. His quips are spot on without being to outrageous. Still not one for all the family although obviously coming from a TV show the delivery is very watered down, also maybe not cutting edge enough for others, but he's definetly one to watch for the future.
Clown Rating: ***
Billy Connolly - Live in London 2010The past master returns to the London part of his tour for another run at Stand Up. Billy has become known for many other things over recent years including Comic Relief and streaking through Picadilly Circus, but here he gets back to what he's best at here, which is performing in front of a live audience.
Billy though comes across rather weathered and delivers a set that is akin to Victo Meldrew. With his his stories of dealing with modern technology, his children and dealing with waning popularity to rock concerts. He does come across quite bumbling at times and forgets his train of thought more than once. Despite this though Billy's stand up is always worth watching, although it's not a patch on arguably his greatest moment which was Live at The Royal Albert Hall in 1987. That is a stand up comedian at the peak of his powers and that still stands up to this day.
Clown Rating: ***
Joan Rivers - A Piece Of WorkJoan Rivers is again like Billy Connolly one of the best ever Stand Ups in the business, here though we get a year in the life of Joan (The year of her 75th Birthday no less) and we get to see how she is dealing with not being in the spotlight so much in the Twilight years of her career (Although don't tell her I said that!). Featuring her putting together her touring show for the UK and select moments of her current stand up routine it is a facinating glimpse into the world of a comedy master.
From her office where she has simply thousands of jokes filed away like a libriarian in draws to her discussing the fact that her diary is not as full as it once was. Then she gets a chance to shine once more with her winning the US version of The Apprentice but even she realises that this moment in the spotlight won't last. The only worry is that despite some very colourful dialogue this DVD has been released as E i.e. unrated, so be careful before getting this for your nan as it still has the ability to shock. But the irrepressible Joan Rivers lives on here and in some style. Essential.
Clown Rating: *****
So overall here there is somethign for everyone this Christmas and we haven't covered everyone here either as there also releases for Jason Mamford, Lee Mack, Tim Vine, Stephen K. Amos, John Bishop & Peter Kay.
We couldn't cover everything and didn't have enough space to, but we would recommend that out of the rather large pile of humour bombs that get Joan Rivers, Rhod Gilbert & Peter Kay's offerings. Avoid at all costs however Frankie Boyles effort unless you enjoy being offended.
So there you have it. We hope that this is helpful to you if you choose to try for something new and funny this holiday season. We will be bvack with another column soon but until then don't forget to check out the Website, Forum and Follow us on Factebook and Twitter (Links Below). Until next time thanks for reading!
Screen One: WEBSITE FORUM FACEBOOK TWITTER
