3/5
Dead Funny
59 Mins. Starring: Ricky Gervais. Director: John L Spencer. On: Netflix.
Morality may be missing in Ricky Gervais' new Netflix special, 'Mortality', but it's still a jolly good show. Even if we aren't always willing to be bloody good sports. Released after Christmas, just in time for the New Year, and in-between all those final 'Stranger Things' volumes, Ricky Gervais' 'Mortality' doesn't make any resolutions to tone down its darkest of dark humour and discriminatory subjects. Just like 'The Unstoppable...' surprise from fellow comedian of the type, Dave Chappelle, a week earlier and a few days before December 25th. As a matter of fact, Ricky resolves to go even harder against his harshest critics and communities he rubs up, on and off (ooo-err) the wrong way. Not to mention the comics who are calling him out.
Interchangeable with his 'Armageddon (2023)' and 'Supernature (2022)' specials before. Much like Ricky's cupboard of Primani, nondescript coffee shop worker, black t-shirts. The man, with dirty angel wings that Natalie Portman's 'Black Swan' would be proud of, is back to his old tricks. So much so, you could almost copy and paste a previous review, like you could use a promotional photograph from a past performance. But we're not saying that's a bad thing. If it ain't broke and all that. And this multimillionaire, like Chappelle, is far from that. This old dog knows new tricks, mind you. Especially as he discusses his own mortality, to hell with his place in the entertainment world. Similar to how Sebastian Maniscalo, who recently made the Netflix jump to Disney Plus, talks about walking past the mirror, past 50, in his new special. 'It Ain't Right'. And we all got it to come. But Gervais is staring into the abyss of what could be it. Life (he's not ready for the hereafter just yet, thank God) and legacy.
One that's being taken to task by cancel culture and all those offended. I mean, there are jokes about Anne Frank, Stephen Hawking and Jimmy Saville. The first two, are done in good jest, and not directly about them. The latter, can rot. The same can be said for his bit about Harold Shipman, which really reminds us of true evil and what a terrible place this world can be. A stand-up comedian just joking, one whose made sweet, sombre and soulful pieces of comedy art (like 'Afterlife'), truly pales in comparison to this devil red. Come for his response to all those comments (even if you might not like what he has to say). Stay for his behind the scenes look at the last, infamous Golden Globe's monologue that torched Hollywood. Not to mention anybody who ever took a trip to that infamous island. Face it, that James Cordon 'Cats' joke was absolutely hilarious, and Ricky will tell you how he got away with it here. No other mortal man could pull off quite a feat like this against 'I' dotting and 'T' crossing lawyers. No other, except this one. Call Gervais a disgrace if you must, but Ricky's reality check comedy is something we all need in a world gone mad. TIM DAVID HARVEY.
Further Filming: Dave Chappelle - 'The Unstoppable...', Ricky Gervais - 'Armageddon', Ricky Gervais - 'Supernature'.
No comments:
Post a Comment