George Carlin: Doin' It Again (1990)

Genre: Comedy

Directed by: Rocco Urbisci

Cast: George Carlin

Time: 60 minutes

For his seventh HBO comedy special, George Carlin took the stage from New Brunswick, New Jersey, to deliver a set that is solid from top to bottom. I have watched and listened to this particular show many times, and it remains one of my favorites.

From the start, Carlin is going strong. In response to the FCC and the rules on offensive language, the famous comic talks about the words he would not be using that night. Then, with the biting tone that would become his trademark, Carlin discussed such topics as water, cancer, rape, feminists and euphemisms. That closing bit on euphemisms remains one of his funniest and smartest.

Overall, this is a funny show from beginning to end. It is not for the sensitive ears, though.

Rating: «««««

La Ch'tite Famille (2018)

Genre: Franco / Comedy

Réalisateur: Dany Boon

Distribution: Dany Boon, Valérie Bonneton, Line Renaud

Running time: 106 minutes

Valentin a quitté et renié sa famille dans le Nord de la France pour s’installer à Paris et devenir un designer réputé auprès de sa compagne Constance. Valentin se dit orphelin, même si ses parents sont bien vivants. Lors d’un vernissage, sa famille débarque à l’improviste, ce qui cause tout un chambardement dans la vie du designer. Ensuite, après un accident, Valentin se retrouve amnésique, une condition qui le replongera dans ses racines Ch’ti.

Malgré quelques raccourcis rapides et faciles utilisés par le co-auteur et réalisateur Dany Boon pour mieux nous faire rire, sourire et verser quelques petites larmes, j’ai été franchement diverti et séduit par cette comédie. Le jeu des acteurs est excellent, les répliques sont savoureuses et l’histoire est fort intéressante. La Ch’tite Famille nous fait rire, mais elle contient quand même sa petite dose de belles leçons de vie.

Somme toute, une belle petite soirée de cinéma.

Rating: ««««

The Boss (2016)

Genre: Comedy

Directed by: Ben Falcone

Cast: Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Bell, Ella Anderson

Time: 99 minutes

Michelle Darnell is a powerful businesswoman who is sent to jail for insider trading and loses everything in the process. Upon her release, she crashes at her former assistant’s place and decides to take over host’s daughter’s Dandelion Girls cookie sales to build her way back to the top.

Melissa McCarthy inhabits her character quite well and offers a decent performance. Unfortunately, that is not nearly enough to make this a good comedy. McCarthy was not given much to work with. The premise is thin and most of the material that was written is barely worth a chuckle. This is not a movie I can recommend.

Rating: ««

What Am I Doing In New Jersey?

Genre: Comedy

Directed by: Bruce Gowers

Cast: George Carlin

Time: 57 minutes

This is George Carlin’s sixth HBO special, recorded live in Union City, New Jersey. The show starts with a little skit where Carlin is taking a cab to make his way to the show, but the cab gets lost in a creepy neighborhood. They stop at a local bar, where the patrons are waiting to watch the show on TV, to ask for directions. During the show, we go back a few times to the people in the bar.

In the stand-up comedy part of the special, Carlin discusses such topics as Ronald Reagan, religion, abortion, keeping people on their toes with your actions, the people he can do without and much more. Here, the comic started to really go into overdrive with the “anger” that characterized the later part of his comedy career. I love that edgy part of Carlin’s material. There is still some craziness around the edges, but the man had things to say and he did not sugar-coat it.

While the early stuff was fun, with some really strong bits like the seven dirty words, this is where Carlin started to really perfect the stuff that made him the greatest of all-time to me.

Rating: «««««

Bert Kreischer: Secret Time (2018)

Genre: Comedy

Directed by: Todd Biermann

Cast: Bert Kreischer

Time: 57 minutes

I discovered Bert Kreischer through his “I Am The Machine/Russian Mafia” bit that has been circulating online and I loved his style, so I was happy to see that he had a full comedy special coming to Netflix.

Secret Time is a hilarious show from top to bottom. Kreischer, who is also known as the shirtless comic, discusses his youth, his dad, his wife and kids and many other topics. He is a great storyteller, with a very special knack for pulling you in and making you want to hear some more. This was laugh-out-loud funny!

Rating: «««««

Playin' With Your Head (1986)

Genre: Comedy

Directed by: Rocco Urbisci

Cast: George Carlin

Time: 57 minutes

George Carlin’s fifth HBO special starts with a skit/mini-film shot in black-and-white where the comedian plays a detective being chased by three bad guys who want to take a mysterious envelope from him. Carlin escapes by taking the stage, where he discusses such topics as various ways to say hello and goodbye, carrying love and regards for other people, sports, losing things and battered plants. Yes, battered plants.

This is a very good show, with a good pace and some very solid material. I found myself laughing out loud many times watching this material again. Carlin is the greatest of all-time and what he did and he was truly finding his rhythm at this point. It would get even better.

Rating: ««««

Trainwreck (2015)

Genre: Romantic Comedy

Directed by: Judd Apatow

Cast: Amy Schumer, Bill Hader, Brie Larson

Time: 125 minutes

Highly influenced from her youth by the infidelities of her father, Amy Townsend has grown up with an intense fear of commitment. During the day, she works as a writer for a men’s magazine. Then, she spends her spare time drinking too much and going from one one-night-stand to another. Out on assignment, she meets sports doctor Aaron Conners, who might very well change her view on relationships.

This is a sweet little romantic comedy, where the acting is decent and the story is compelling enough to keep you interested. The end is predictable, but such is life with rom coms.

I am not a big fan of Amy Schumer’s stand-up work, but, here, she does a good job, which is not surprising since she basically plays the one-note character she is known for. When she is alone on stage, it can get irritating, but, surrounded with the write surroundings, it can be made bearable.

There were quite a few moments that made me laugh out loud. Colin Quinn’s performance was a highlight for me, and I sure did not expect that. The whole thing is a bit cheesy overall, but it is still an entertaining flick.

Rating: «««