Iliza: Confirmed Kills

Now, I have never heard of Iliza Shlesinger before I stumbled upon this stand-up comedy show on Netflix.

I will say that she is funny and she definitely has a very energetic and truly magnetic presence on the stage. With an abundance of energy, she did feel quite at home on the stage.

Her material had some good jokes, however there just was a bit too little variety in the topics in the material for my liking. And that ultimately lead to this as being a mundane and mediocre stand-up comedy show for me.

I finally got her to tell me what she was watching! She didn't want to tell me and have me log in and knock her off Netflix in case everyone else in the family was on it, understandably. So I politely waited until tonight and after she had gone to bed and turned on this show! BTW, I had to see it because my daughter, who is a highly trained actress and has just started stand up comedy and performed a few places around the world, said Iliza Snlesinger is the best comic in the world. I was like what? I mean my daughter is sweet and supportive but that is very high praise! Clearly I had to see for myself. I was very amazed by not only the Lol factor of Iliza's comedy, I have to use her first name because that last name is no "Smith"! Not trying to be too personal. I was amazed though by how many topics she covered and in what depth! Her imagination is amazing! I mean I felt like I was right there with her! I could really relate too, which is great because I am probably her Mom's age, etc... Still, I found her to be really funny and informative! Ever since Hannah Gatsby it is not enough that the comedy be funny, I want to feel informed too now. I cannot wait until Covid is over and we can seek Iliza out in a live show and surprise my daughter!! This will be amazing! She seems super sweet too! I also watched Her Elder Millineal show and boy was I so embarrassed! I thought millennial meant born in this century. I had no idea my kids are both millinneals and I have been making fun of them in front of my daughter! I should have known because she really does act like one! They can be so annoying and it was fun to see Iliza make fun of them, herself. Once again, I could relate! Who knew, I have 2 millinneals, 3 chihuahuas, 2 American Short Hair cats and a grand baby on the way, as well as having been locked up for covid for 10 months! It explains a lot!

Anyway, her shows are great! I can see why my daughter confidently proclaimed she and Katherine Ryan are the best comics. I have to add Tom Papa and Hannah Gatsby in there too! I would totally buy stock in this young lady!

Iliza is a hidden gem when it comes to female comedians. I absolutely adored her last Netflix original, and while the speeches went on a little too long, she was able to outweigh those with her usual gut busting show. A little slow at first. But picks up to the usual momentum she does with her stand up. She does extremely well both visually and audibly. Again, I'll admit it's not as good as her last Netflix original, but as long as you are okay with her speeches she goes through, which honestly do give some pretty good points, you're in for a treat as she delivers a hot plate of unique humor. She is able to take the stereotypes down like your grandpa from ww2

Obviously intelligent woman delivers a lot a of moments that make you think , but nothing that makes you laugh. Based on this I would say she's more suited to be a motivational speaker versus a comedienne. Came across as perpetually angry , other comics , male and female have similar delivery styles and have been hilarious. Unfortunately that's not the case here. Somewhat preachy, heavy on the feminism. Might be our demographical differences, but nowhere on this hour seventeen minute journey did I find myself laughing. Made a good start, thought she would build upon her opening bit. But that was the funniest part of the entire thing.

Observant but not especially insightful. She does a good job of articulating certain tropes and hallmarks of the modern, Western, liberal arts educated, upper middle class, female, millennial, ego monster's experience. The whole set seems forced (forced for content, for message, for relatability) - like she's only hearing the laughs and not the hollowed, dead spaces around them. She never achieves the state of mass hypnosis you need to get the audience to go along with her on the journey...and so the jokes never really land. I appreciate that she thinks she's saying something important, and that she has a voice worth hearing, but I don't think she earns it with her performance. Lots of shtick and meme-signalling throughout that comes across as manipulative despite trying to wink and nod knowingly at the audience. "Fast" and "loud" do not in themselves = "funny." That all said, I think it's an honest piece of work and these sorts of strident performances tend to focus an artist's following. I'm sure she'll strengthen her diehards and perhaps gain a few new fans because of this grating, 80s-90s era, Kinisonian-ish, rant, but no doubt she's lost a few here as well - I was on the fence (mostly cause she's alright to look at) but I'm no longer interested in watching any future specials from Iliza. Next time, less lurching at the laugh and more actual funny, please.