Most Helpful Customer Reviews
|
|
20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Top class, true stand-up, 25 Nov 2009
The thing with seeing a Dylan Moran show or dvd, is that you know it will be good. I sat down to watch this, after seeing the show live in Bristol last year, and knew I was in for a treat. He doesn't disappoint.
Dylan Moran begins this show in a superbly bumbling fashion, pretty much walking out onto stage and shrugging. But, ironically when you consider the themes he talks about, this evolves into passionate rants about just about anything he can think of to complain about.
Of course, amongst 80 minutes of talking, there is a great deal of cynicism, but that's always been part of Moran's charm. The passion he shows is addictive, and you can feel the audience growing with it. This is true stand-up comedy: One man + one stage + one microphone = jokes. simple. The way Moran manages to diversify from this very simple comedy formula is by being a very unique observational comedian and by giving very bizarre analogies. It's pure, and it's superb.
"What It Is" is a perfect title for this show, and Moran talks about pretty much everything, and this can be summed up by the way he begins the show; with material on God and science and the creation of the world. Common Moran themes like self-improvement and foreign countries (and their accents) crop up, however more fresh and broad themes are talked about, such as Death, Consumerism, Child-rearing, pleasure and, er... confectionery.
"What It Is" could be viewed as a dark and cynical talk about the difficult issues in life, maybe even a passionate lecture, but the difference is, Moran manages to cover these topics whilst being outrageously funny. This DVD is superb from start to finish, and leaves you wanting to go have a cake. Moran would be pleased.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you?
 
|
|
|
|
|
|
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Hilarious and subtle, 9 Dec 2009
When Dylan Moran points out the failure of the human world (you can't turn to consumerism, money, God or politics) he is being very clever. What forms the backdrop to all the 1990s self-help books becomes instead a reality that feeds his comedy. Much of it is not especially original or inventive. What it is, instead, is observant, and there is never any question that Moran finds himself the funniest thing in the world. Acting drunk, though unlikely actually to be drunk, he gives the performance of a whingeing bar bore who suddenly comes to life one night and regales everyone with fabulous comedy.
I'm not the kind of person who laughs out loud much at books or TV, but in Moran's case I did laugh at this. A lot of comedy is stupid but this combines subtle truth with very funny examples.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
|
|
7 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
It's a very sad day when I have to give Dylan Moran 2 stars, 29 Dec 2009
Ok here's how it is. Years ago, I watched Dylan's stand up 'Monster' on the television and laughed hysterically until I had a terrible stomach ache. I was sat on a chair at the start and I literally ended up on the floor. It was the funniest thing I had ever seen full-stop, never mind the funniest stand-up. Of course, I bought Monster, which I cherish and also Like, Totally Dylan Moran. I rate these 5 and 4 stars consecutively. I went to see What it is live in London, and had a great night out but in terms of comedic value, it didn't match up to either of these. Having watched the DVD, I am sorry to say that I was little more than amused. He seemed to go over the same topics and say more or less the same thing about them.
I really do love Dylan Moran but nevertheless, I didn't feel like he really gave it his all. He seemed a little too comfortable and he's usually an intensely anxious character on stage. He was in and out of character whereas I prefer when he commits to being dishevelled and disorderly for the entire performance so I can get lost in his endless world-weary grumpiness and rage, and really believe in it. This time, I was more aware that it was Dylan Moran on stage rather than his drunken persona. Like, Totally had the same feel but to a lesser extent. I also felt that there weren't enough long sequences. Dylan Moran is so skilful in the sense that he can paint a picture in no less than a few words; he's so succinct and clever and can build up a long story, holding your attention and making you laugh at every step of the way. For example, the story with the skin-head in Monster is hilarious from start to finish whereas the stories and jokes in What It Is are more direct and less vivid.
Dylan Moran is so talented and I bet you'd enjoy What it is, but I can't recommend it - buy Monster!!
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Most Recent Customer Reviews
|
![Dylan Moran Live - What It Is [DVD] [2009]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41w2V4Kw5WL._SL75_SS50_.jpg)
![Dylan Moran - The Whole Collected Thing [DVD] [2009]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51jzQjG7LXL._SL75_SS50_.jpg)
![Rhod Gilbert And The Award-Winning Mince Pie - Live [DVD] [2009]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51prmrsqAsL._SL75_SS50_.jpg)
![Ed Byrne - Different Class - Live [DVD] [2009]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51DG8%2BqcT8L._SL75_SS50_.jpg)
![Ed Byrne - Different Class - Live [DVD] [2009]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51DG8%2BqcT8L._SL500_SS90_.jpg)
![Bill Bailey's Remarkable Guide To The Orchestra [DVD] [2009]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51viJEBYtVL._SL500_SS90_.jpg)
![Eddie Izzard Live Stripped [DVD] [2009]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51gj3csrSaL._SL500_SS90_.jpg)
![Ross Noble - Nobleism [DVD] [2009]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51U6CiDqBSL._SL500_SS90_.jpg)
![Rich Hall with Special Guest Otis Lee Crenshaw And The Honky Tonk A**holes Hell No I Ain't Happy Live at The Apollo [DVD] [2009]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51nt4Ehr2vL._SL500_SS90_.jpg)
