Zach Galifianakis: Live at the Purple Onion

We gave up about halfway through this yawn fest. The audience was obviously drunk and/or paid to be there; they mimed laughter only as long as they thought they were in the shot.

I like most of what Galifianakis has done outside this and I understand his comedy, but I found this show to be a little bit too indulgent, ill-disciplined and not very funny. I can do without seeing long inserts of him driving a Kombi and the 'twin' character didn't add anything but highlight the weakness of the main set: In a 1 hour show nothing should be trying to detract from the stand-up unless there are problems with the stand up in the first place. And there were; (unintentionally and repeatedly) flubbed jokes; excessive and repetitive interaction with one audience member; lack of much coherence; and inconsistent delivery. There were occasional lines that brought a smile, but more often the comedy fell flat or awkwardly for me.

Zach Gach-fix-kin-ass-key is one of the freshest comedians walking the comedy beat today, he has created a very original style of comedy and the best way I can describe it is to call it "venting". You know that feeling of awkward hilarity when someone does something embarrassing and you cant help but laugh? he tends to blend that, with making fun of himself and his past and I have to say that I cant remember the last time I laughed so hard. His comedic style beats the HELL out of Dane Cook's overcooked garbage. My favorite quote from the film is "When you look like I do it's hard to get a table for one at a Chuck E' Cheese." I cant really say much more other than there should be a movie made about Zach's "brother" Seth Galifiankis.

Just like the most perfect representation of a comedian film, and yet it's so not. My favorite stand-up film ever.

Big fan of stand up, this is the single funniest comedy act I have ever seen.

It is hard to call it stand up, it is not just him standing in front of a mic telling zingers. It is him mostly on piano the whole show sharing with you a peak inside is hilarious, self-aware yet sometimes self-loathing mind. There is dark humor, there is witty humor, there is eccentricity that makes you laugh, there are audience interactions that make you cringe (seemingly intentionally) and parts that make you jealous you weren't in the room. It is electric!

I cannot recommend this special highly enough. It has been over 15 years from its release and I still have not laughed harder at a comedy act. Truly brilliant!