STAND-UP REVIEW: RICKY GERVAIS - ARMAGEDDON

3.5/5

Deep Impact. 

62 Mins. Starring: Ricky Gervais. Director: John L. Spencer. On: Netflix. 

Best before end like a Tim Vine gag about cheese of the same name, Ricky Gervais' 'Armageddon' on Netflix isn't the end of the cancel culture world, or his career as they know it. In the same fall that see Dave Chappelle close out the year with 'The Dreamer', critics want to put these "controversial" comics to bed in the name of being "woke". But it's time to wake up. Sure, they could play it 'Seinfeld' safe like Trevor Noah's nice 'Where Was I Special' that still pokes at some punctuated points, but then what envelope would they really be pushing in the name of comedy? Gervais has already roasted the entirety of Hollywood in a Golden Globe opening monologue that deserves its own award, and everyone is getting all offended about a Taylor Swift gag that wasn't even funny in the first place to get all worked up about. This 'Armageddon' coming at the same time as Chappelle's show, like when the Bruce Willis movie was joined by Morgan Freeman's 'Deep Impact' reminds us that Netflix is at its best when it's a joke. One that's on you if you can't take it. 

Petitions to remove certain jokes online. Making a wish with some sick jokes about dying kids. Wait a minute! These are just jokes. And about fictional ones at that. It's OK, Gervais says, if he dies in a few weeks they'll all just claim it was wonderful satire. Sure, some jokes don't land. But not every player's shot scores, and not every singer hits every note. And don't get me started on how many retakes and reshoots your favourite actors and movies need. You can't stop random thoughts from pushing their way on to your daily life's train tracks, and Gervais has enough brain farts here to make everyone screw their faces up. But what are they shouting Ricky's name like this was 'Boyz N The Hood'. They brought the tickets. You have at least two chance to change your mind when you scroll to this on your streaming service. And those trolling him on the wannabe artists home formerly known as Twitter don't have anything to say about the beautiful message he leaves us with in a compelling closing. Although, they do have s### to give him about his stance for animal rights and the environment. I smell the hypocrisy of the 'Selective Outrage' Chris Rock was talking about in a great year of stand-up on Netflix. And we haven't even got to the best in show, Bill Burr yet.

Ever since looking like Michael Jackson (oh, those jokes) on the cover of his own thriller, Ricky Gervais has done more than most give him credit for. Besides from the Brent of giving us an 'Office' party that's not spelling it all out like the Brit rugby players on 'Family Guy' say. Before the brunt, he's dealt with death and dementia in definitive dramas that also know how to make you laugh through these dark days, with humour the same. Oh, and according to his work with the legendary Karl Pilkington (there are mirrors of Karl's attitude here when it comes to save the date wedding invites years in advance), he practically invented the podcast as we see it today. And let's not forget the work his black t-shirt and pants look has done for Primark, too. Sex, death, race, religion, disability, free speech, global warming, the holocaust, Epstein's and Elton John. Nothing is safe or off the table on this special that Gervais unwrapped with Netflix on Christmas Day. But there's still a point to be made. And even when there's not, he still makes you laugh in a turbulent time when the world could just end tomorrow. And just wait until he enters a game of thrones. Sure, this is something you probably shouldn't have watched around the table at Christmas Day. Maybe just stick with 'The Crown', or the King's speech. But in this New Year, two resolutions should be made. For people to stop getting so offended by jokes, and for said comedians to stop going on about that too, now they've made their last stands in the name of stand-up comedy. Then maybe we can all just laugh together. TIM DAVID HARVEY. 

Further Filming: 'Dave Chappelle-The Dreamer', 'Trevor Noah-Where Was I?', 'Ricky Gervais-Supernature'.