You Laugh But It's True

It was alright but really did not manage to go anywhere

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.

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.

I had high expectations for this film and was not disappointed. It's a compelling and insightful look at the evolution of the comedy scene in South Africa. Trevor Noah is a talented comedian with an intriguing life story and there were poignant moments in the film that took me by surprise.

I thought the subtle uses of humor and irony throughout the documentary were brilliant. On the technical side, I enjoyed the dynamic cinematography and exceptional soundtrack. My husband, who isn't always a fan of documentaries, also greatly enjoyed the film. We both thought it was the perfect length as well and it didn't drag on as some documentaries tend to do.