You Laugh But It's True

I watched this on Netflix just now. I decided to watch it because it sounded interesting. Well, it certainly delivers! I have a couple of acquaintances in South Africa, so I suppose I'm slightly less ignorant... but the two people I know there are white, so I think that certainly skews the point of view. I found this insightful, funny, touching... just really great. I am ashamed to admit, I didn't remember he was the one to take over the Daily Show until about 10 minutes before this was finished. To explain, I can't afford cable, and only catch clips on YouTube for at least the past 2 years. I hope to be in a better situation soon when I can have cable, because I want to watch him in action!! At any rate, this review is specifically for this documentary, which I think was very well done. Showing many perspectives, personal life... just very well done.

I have to admit, I thought this was going to be a stand up routine. But it is a documentary about how Trevor Noah came to America and also gets very personal. You see him unfiltered, you see his family and tragedies surrounding him and his life. And he is open about those things, not afraid to put emphasis on where it might hurt.

If I had seen this before I knew he would be taking over from Jon Stewart on the Daily Show, I might have been more confident from the get go. As it was he had to win me over, just because I love Jon Stewart so much. It's like no one could replace him ... and Trevor is not a copy or a replacement. He is his own thing, a voice that is needed in America and in comedy on TV - especially since Larry Wilmore is "gone" ... doing podcast that is.

It was alright but really did not manage to go anywhere

Having read, and thoroughly enjoyed Noah's book "Born a Crime", I was thrilled to come across this documentary as it brought to life some of the places and people from the book.

Trevor is my favorite comedian although it wasn't always so. When the Daily Show announced Noah as the successor to the great Jon Stewart, I was quite disappointed. True, I enjoyed Trevor's bits on the show.. but I didn't think he could fill Stewart's shoes. I was wrong!

After watching some of his stand-up specials, I was just blown away by Trevor Noah's brilliant mind and inimitable wit. The man is simply extraordinary - a stand-out among stand-ups. And even as impressed as I am with his comedic talent, I was even more in awe of his accomplishments when I read his bio and learned about his larger than life upbringing in an extremely oppressive culture. What an incredible journey!

I don't laugh easily; I'm one of those folks who cringe when someone tells a joke, because chances are I won't find it funny. But Trevor Noah is one of the few comics who frequently has me laughing 'til it hurts.

I enjoyed this documentary as a bonus insight into Noah's background, and I love that it also includes some clips of his standup. If you are a Trevor Noah fan you should enjoy watching this slice of his life because he is more than a comedian - he is a catalyst for bringing people of every diversity together for a common laugh at themselves and the crazy world we live in.

Amazing background to the comic genius Trevor Noah. The personal and political are both part of his comedy and this film shows him calmly confronting situations that would petrify most of us. We get to meet his South African grandmother and mother who are both truly admirable people. During the making of the doco his mother was actually the victim of a serious crime and it's frightening what the outcome could have been. This is one of the serious moments in the film that allows us to see where Noah came from and truly opened my eyes to South African society. That's why this is more than just a record of "putting-on-a-show." Watch out for his impression of Nelson Mandela at his 91st birthday party, drunk! Had me in stitches.