The British have made famous a self-described ‘licorice scarecrow Willy Wonka sex man’ and rightly christened him with the name of Russell Brand.
He is a wacky comedian who has wreaked havoc and laughter all about Britain for years, getting his name in the news, in the tabloids and often getting his butt behind bars. But after his release from drug and sex rehabilitation centers, Brand, like the pilgrim pirate that he is, has set his sights across the Atlantic to America. The question now: Is it ready for him?
Though not known by everyone in the United States, the 33-year-old comedian is notorious in the United Kingdom for his wild encounters with the law. His scandalous autobiography ‘My Booky Wook,’ which recounts his days of debauchery, drugs and sex, was published in 2007 and quickly became a best seller. He has worked for some years in radio and hosted an array of British TV shows.
If his name does not ring a bell at this point, then maybe you did not see the recent film ‘Forgetting Sarah Marshall.’ In the film, Brand plays the pompous egotistical rock star, Aldous Snow. If this does not jog your memory, then maybe you will recall some leather-panted Jack Sparrow-looking bloke with haystack hair hosting the 2008 MTV’s Video Music Awards. He was the one who insinuated George W. Bush was a mentally retarded cowboy who shouldn’t be trusted with a pair of scissors and pointed out the marketing scheme in the Jonas Brother’s chastity rings.
Russell Brand: ‘Nothing Short of Amazing’
However provocative his comments may be and however terrible his drug habits were in the past, Brand’s stand-up comedy has significant merit. ‘Russell Brand in New York City,’ which aired last Sunday on Comedy Central, proved to be nothing short of amazing. For too long, Comedy Central has let mediocre comedians shove down its audience’s throats the same jokes about Bush, sex and drugs heard countless times. Finally, there is a comic who at least does it with a funny cockney accent and filthy bouffant hair.
To be serious, his take on subjects like sex, elephants, homosexuality and the news media is unique in that it is charmingly childish.’ He can only be compared to Monty Python for his total absurdity and Chris Rock for his outlandish language. Dave Itzkoff of the New York Times was on target when he said, ‘When it comes to actual joke telling, Brand misses more often than he hits.’ Brand is definitely not a one-liner comedian, but he is hilarious because of the attitude he projects. It is this attitude that everything it up for grabs that sends the audience into fits of laughter. His honesty and complete frankness about subjects like vanity and sex resonate with the audience because his stories mock some of the most common moments in life, while at other times, he mocks completely ridiculous unimaginable moments.
His bohemian style of dress cannot help but add to his hilarious image. Brand said, to the New York Times. ‘I like to wear tight clothes and think meself all sexy.’ A sexy pirate or not, he looks like a twit and that’s funny stuff. Dress up his child-like flamboyancy in those outfits and you have the funniest sight you could ever see.
In ‘Russell Brand in New York City,’ he strays away from the offensive or shocking material usually present in his stand-up. Rather, he focuses on his life experience, which I believe is a wise move for a rookie in the American entertainment industry.
He begins the set by talking about his love for fame and how he is unhappy he does not have it in America. ‘My personality doesn’t work without fame. Without fame, this haircut is just mental illness.’
From there he mocks Google for its smugness (‘Did you mean: psychosomatic’) and its ‘sarcastic italics,’ the Death Threats he received after the VMAs and his terrible equestrian skills. He uses the same honest and frank manner when discussing anything from strange sexual situations tothe Queen of England.
One thing that makes him so funny is his playful language. It is his comedic keystone. His language is so powerful and his skills in turning of a phrase make his rants on stage absolutely hilarious. He has an creative mind, which can be witnessed when he deploys the most playful combination of words. But his language is never too obtuse to kill a joke.
His most emblematic quality is his complete unpredictably. Everything is a surprise and catches you off guard. You will think he is going one way with a joke and then at the last minute ‘Bang! You’re pregnant.’ And you never see it coming.
More than anything, one can tell he is totally himself on stage. There is no pretending. He says what he thinks and loves a laughing response. Brand’s undeniable wit and charm on the stage has set himself up to become an icon among the American audience in the same way it happened in his native land. But it is still yet to be seen if his unique ‘brand’ of comedy will be one that hold’s the attention spans of Americans for long. Just ask Dane Cook how quick a comedian can fall.
Leave a Reply