Chris Rock: Bring the Pain

Rock repels me when he tries to be in a "real" film. But I have to admit that he is a terrific standup guy.

I assume that's true of him as a person, but what I mean is as a comic. I dive into these things from time to time and am frequently disappointed. Oh, sometimes I laugh but its only a half a laugh until you realize what's happening.

Most standup is insult comedy, usually associated with identity comedy. I'm sure there is an immigrant, Vaudeville history there. But most black comics today do the identity thing.

Rock is sort of a genius in what he does, and since it is so finely tuned it must be conscious.

Here's what he does: he'll take the black community to task for some characteristic or behavior that is taboo to mention in the US. He'll hammer on it until it threatens to catch fire. Then in apparent seamlessness, he'll switch from being outside the group to inside and the switch itself will be funny.

For instance, he'll riff on OJ and violent blacks and how OJ's wife deserved to be killed. People will howl with nervous laughter. Then without missing a beat or change tone, he'll make fun of such an attitude. Poking fun at stupid blacks who think this way. The laughter will not start anew but continue from the old, building layer upon layer. Then he'll switch back, talking about slapping a bitch around, Then another switch about how that's not acceptable. People still laughing. Oh, he'd never, never (many nevers) hit a woman....

But he'd shake the bleep out her, and he caps it off by acting out this violence. Weeping, hurting laughter.

Its because the man knows the precise point at which the boundary can be pushed. When he gets just to that point, just barely there, he pirouettes to the other side and pushes back until the boundary is dangerously close to breaking the other way.

It's brilliant, because no one at all talks about that boundary in the US. Not seriously. So we get a couple things. We get to see a dancing concept master do his stuff. We get to confront something we avoid at all costs. We get to see risk in him and it makes us free to take some risks. Oh, we laugh.

But we love the guy too.

I've seen a few other shows. I think this is the best.

Ted's Evaluation -- 3 of 3: Worth watching.

I wasn't a Chris Rock fan until I saw this show. I'd catch just a few moments of the show while channel surfing, and didn't think much of it. One night, out of boredom I watched a few minutes of his material and was floored. I couldn't believe how funny he was. On further airings I caught the complete show, and discovered his humour also contained cutting social insights which added to the humor.

Chris Rock's Bring the Pain is his best standup yet. Bigger and Blacker had some good things, but Chris' material is so well thought out, planned and executted to hilarious precision here it boggles the mind.

He tackles Marion Barry (the crackhead at the million-man-march), OJ, Domestic Abuse, Tossed Salad Man, Women and relationships, Foood, the ghetto, and one of my faborite stand-up speeches ever- Niggers and Black people. Rock brings comedy that is so hard hitting, side splitting, and controversial, it makes Lenny Bruce seem like Jackie Martling. Along with George Carlin and Denis Leary, Chris Rock is one of my favorite comedians ever, and this sepcial proves it.

What does this mean? Does Chris Rock make black people less intimidating to whites simply because he points out their weakness? Last time I saw "Live at the Appolo" on TV, all I saw was a lot of crotch-grabbing and swagger and not much thought-provoking thoughts like Chris Rock presents in this show. If your black, laugh at yourself. If your white, laugh too, but realize it's your everyday actions that "Bring the Pain."

*bows*

All hail Chris Rock, one of the finest stand-up comedians I have ever seen.

"Bring The Pain" is simply amazing, a total riot from start to finish. Chris Rock discusses life, relationships, racism, society, politics, and controversial figures such as OJ Simpson, Marion Barry, and even the President -- speaking not only from personal experience but also keen observations. You will laugh your arse off -- he's witty, insightful, sagacious, and always brutally honest.

If you want to see a true master of his art, go rent Chris Rock's DVD "Never Scared" (which contains "Bring The Pain"). Oh, and a word to the wise; don't try to eat or drink near punchlines. You *will* get coke up your nose and/or choke. This nearly happened to me during the scene where he talks about Martin Luther King -- one of my favorites, not only because it's hysterical, but also because it's a shining example of his perceptiveness.

So go watch it! ;) - Kate