Starring
Lewis Black. Directed by Justin Kreutzman. (2017, 100 min).
I
need to start by stating I've been a huge Lewis Black fan ever since
I first saw him on The Daily Show years
ago. He's also the only comedian I have ever felt compelled to
pay good money to see live, a show which may have been funniest hour
I ever endured. And if you still haven't seen his 2004 HBO special,
Black on Broadway, drop everything and go get the DVD right
now. Like all the great comedians, what made him funny wasn't
necessarily his words, but his expressions and
delivery...expletive-filled tirades that pointed out the utter
stupidity of the world around us. He was always especially funny -
and timely - when ranting about the current state of the country.
So
it saddens me to say that a few of Black's recent specials have paled in
comparison. Oh, the rage is still there in abundance, but he's often
more angry than funny. His latest, Black to the Future, is
another unfortunate let-down, full of bits that seem to go on forever and
payoffs that don't seem worth his capillary-bursting efforts. Even
topics where he normally excels - skewering politicians - feel more
forced than they used to be, and can't always be saved by incredulous
tirades or a Ben Carson impersonation. And one excruciating,
laugh-free segment about the glories of breasts is downright
embarrassing. C'mon, Lewis, save that stuff for the Bob Sagets of the
world.
 |
| Lewis Black moonlights as a mime. |
While
there are still some laughs to be had, they're sparser than they generally are when Black is at the top of his game. It's especially
disappointing when you consider this was filmed during the 2016
election year, but relatively little of his act is dedicated to the
presidential race. Too bad, because verbally destroying every
candidate should have been like shooting fish in a barrel, providing
enough prime material for two or three shows for a man like Lewis
Black.
Other
fans may disagree, but I personally found Black to the Future
a crushing disappointment, as was the additional program, The Rant
is Due: Live from Napa, provided as a bonus feature. This one
features Black taking audience questions to use as a springboard for
more trademark rants. But improvisation doesn't appear to be one of
Black's strengths.
EXTRA
KIBBLES
BONUS
PROGRAM: THE RANT IS DUE: LIVE FROM NAPA
KITTY CONSENSUS:
MEH...
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