Martin Lawrence explains in the first few minutes of his comedy special dubbed Runteldat that he isn't waiting for E! True Hollywood to tell his s***, but is going to tell it in his own words and his own personal experiences. I normally say that some concert and stand-up films that go to theaters aren't really that special enough to go theatrical - but I think Martin Lawrence Live: Runteldat posses a strong enough reason for such an honor.
"Runteldat" is a slang term for "run and tell that." While it's not spoken throughout the whole film, it has a certain meaning to it which makes it worthy of the title choice. Lawrence is basically telling the audience members "now that you know the true story, run and tell that!" The special was shot at Constitution Hall in Washington D.C., and was directed by David Raynr. Raynr directed the seldom-seen Whatever it Takes which was truly a mixed bag of comedy and drama elements. Runteldat is also number eight on the list of films that uses the f word most frequently, clocking in at three-hundred and eleven uses. I, for one, am not offended by vulgarity if it is taken in a new and non-gratuitous manner. It may seem like nothing but unnecessary language, but once you get past it, the film becomes a pleasure and the vulgarity adds to the fun of the whole picture. After a while, you adapt and it becomes an unobtrusive quality.
Martin talks about every from sex, to drugs, to crime, to cops, to 9/11, the news, the media, and even the Cha Cha Slide and why he "can't stand that f****** dance!" The first seven minutes are devoted to a montage on Martin lashing out at the media. The message is unclear because I can't really see what they did wrong. They were reporting on him because he was arrested. Why is he getting mad? I don't know. The whole attack seems tiresome and drawn out, but once Martin gets a hold of the mic - anything goes.
When talking about critics, he says that can "criticize deeeez nuts!" When talking about the Cha Cha Slide he says "STOP! Think about it." One of my favorite sketches is when he talks about the way blacks and whites react to getting pulled over. I'm white, and while I think I was supposed to be offended or insulted, I couldn't contain my laughter. When a film makes you think offensive material against yourself is hilarious - I can't help but give it the highest compliment I've given a comedy special.
I'm not easily offended because I feel that Martin isn't being racist as much as he is proving a point about how distant blacks and whites can be sometimes. If I found out he was being honest? I'd probably still laugh seeing as he has the gall to admit something like that. It's a win-win for him.
Another skit that was fabulous was when he discusses the differences between black and white parenting. He uses an example when a kid insults his mother, the mother sends him to timeout for "emotional issues." He claims if you said that to a black mother, your timeout would be picking up your teeth, your molars, and getting your foot out of some place.
Martin Lawrence Live: Runteldat is a comedy special of epic vulgar proportions. I can't sum it up to a solid degree. This isn't the raunchiest or best that I've seen, but since Lawrence has done a number of kid films it's nice to see him step up to the mic revealing his dirty side. I couldn't help but applaud at the end. The ambition and courage it took to get on the mic and say what he just said deserves some kind of award.
Performed by: Martin Lawrence. Directed by: David Raynr.
