Russell Brand’s DVD Shows Two Sides of Bawdy Brit
by Christian Toto
Russell Brand is only on the first few ticks of his 15 minutes of fame, but he’s already a tough sell to conservative audiences. The British comic unleashed a crude anti-Bush tirade while hosting the MTV Video Music Awards last year, all the while begging viewers to vote for then-Sen. Barack Obama.
Brand proves he isn’t the Molotov cocktail-throwing comedian he appears to be in his new stand-up comedy DVD, “Russell Brand In New York City: Extended and Uncensored.”
He’s actually the male Kathy Griffin.
The new DVD, out May 19, finds the comic spending way too much time dissecting his VMA appearance. Like Griffin, Brand finds humor from recalling how his life intersects with the lives of stars big and small. He’s a B-lister hovering on the perimeter of celebrity, a prankster who can’t gain admittance into fame’s inner circle.
In between, the bawdy Brit strikes a self-effacing stance, mocking his own craving for a slice of American notoriety.
First, he’ll have to tone down the mock outrage his antics draw. He reads some of the vicious letters he received after his VMA appearance, but the segment begins badly and never recovers. Every star gets his share of insane hate mail, and Brand’s ripostes to the ones read aloud here seem more petty than humorous.
The stunt reveals his modus operandi. He instinctively provokes conflict, then rails against those angered by his comportment. It’s a predictable cycle, and one that could yield comic results. And sometimes it does, as Brand’s prickly wit often salvages his stale observations.
But too often his material feels strained, as if he needs to go back on the road to polish up a sly reference here, a verbal tic there. The comic’s sexual material is particularly bland, the kind of jokes that had the best chance of shocking audiences had they been told a decade ago.
Brand drops a few literary references with ease, and he flaunts the kind of fluid physical moves which could serve him well in his upcoming remake of “Arthur.”
He’s already proven he can swipe a scene or two from last year’s hilarious comedy “Forgetting Sarah Marshall.”
Now Brand must show he’s a stand-up comic to be reckoned with, and not just Kathy Griffin 2.0 with more eyeliner and tighter pants.
Christian Toto is a contributing reporter for The Washington Times, MovieMaker Magazine and boxoffice.com. He blogs about film at whatwouldtotowatch.com
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73 Comments
There is just nothing about Brand that I like. He's not funny.
Just give me Kathy Griffin. At least she knows she's below B-List and celebrates it.
"The stunt reveals his modus operandi. He instinctively provokes conflict, then rails against those angered by his comportment."
That's an awful lot of words to describe what Usenet classified two decades ago as a "troll."
Related phrase: "plonk."
The only thing I have in common with Russell Brand is that we're both Morrissey fans.
Why in the world does a British Dandy think anyone cares about his opinion on our political affairs? I don't watch award shows so I didn't see his comment until it was shown on the news last fall. I could barely keep from kicking my flatscreen in! Go home and take care of your own issues!!
And anyway, since you brought it up: what in the world does MTV have to do with judging music videos anyway? That makes as much sense as a gay dude judging a womens' beauty contest.
Stick to what you know, MTV. Staged reality shows, blipverts, and regular fluid changes on Kurt Loder's formaldehyde tank.
Despite his goofy hair, Russel Brand is still not funny; the man is a cartoon, yet all I can do is wince at his awful "jokes." When you have to dig deep to be funny, you should just stop.
Doesn't bode well for him if the most favorable aspect of his act is akin to Kathy Griffin. Or is he artsy like Sarah Silverman? Lisa Lampenelli without the beer belly? If I want comedy from acerbic, metrosexual emo types, I'll watch Billie Joe from Green Day.
I tried watching Brand once, it immediately reminded me of Quint running his fingernails down the chalkboard in Jaws.
He makes a conscious effort to be controversial, which spells F.A.K.E.
He'll go the route of Andy Dick and Tom Green, it'll get old and boring and people will move on.
I made the mistake of trying to watch the MTV awards when he hosted (hey, I was curious). I don't think I lasted two minutes. That pretty much sums up my interest and conclusions about Brand.
Brand…feh…can't be bothered, but in the name of all that's holy, why are they remaking "Arthur"? Didn't like the original myself, but the nail on Dudley Moore's big toe could outperform this poser.
Unless it's Arthur from the children's books. Nah…I don't think Brand could pull that off either…
I've watched a little of him and I really don't think he's that funny. More annoying. For comedians with funny hair, Carrot Top beats him.
I thought he was mildy amusing in "Bedtime Stories." But I also thought that he was acting in that flick.
"…stale observations."
That's the main problem. He's not well read, and he's not insightful, which is why he comes off as petty. He's just not very thoughtful. He's like the opposite of Dennis Miller. That's why he took the easiest road a shock-comic could take in 2008– trashing Bush. How brave.
Eh… I would rather ignore him and forget he exists…. I really don't find him funny… but then I don't find many outsiders that brashly critize my country like he has funny…. But that's just my personal opinion… I like and very much appreciate comedy and political comedy/satire…. but anything laced with hate and/or disdain I can live without…. from anyone.
Or someone in a hot dog suit? Man that picture is funny!
Eh I'll take a Ron White monologue about his dog Sluggo or going to the Greek Islands with his new wife and Squirrel Man..Brand is sort of a really bad version of an 80's Glam Metal Wannabe that got kicked out of a try out for Poison.
Brand, playing that character in Forgetting Sarah Marshall was hilarious. Unfortunately he doesn't realize that that character only works in that movie, and in real life he is just a huge D-bag…and who wants to watch a D-bag? OK, besides the 8 people that watch Olberman, who wants to watch a D-Bag? OK, besided the 3 people that watch Real Time…hey, Brand might be on to something.
Bush jokes at this point are like telling a knock knock jokes…it just shows a lack fo effort.
I don't like guys with tummy tucks. His is insanely obvious.
Who? I am still not sure who this guy is. The first time I saw a pic of this guy, I wondered who the scary guy was. I have never heard him and I really have no desire to either.
Another remake? Holy cow, I didn't like Arthur the first time around.
I did like Brand in Forgetting Sarah Marshall. That obnoxious music video railing against global warming was pretty funny.
The way he attacked Sarah Palin and her family was enough for me. The man is scum.
—-Carrot Top beats him. —–
That's bad….
—-trashing Bush—-
ohhhh,……..pushing the envelope there, huh?
—Another remake? Holy cow, I didn't like Arthur the first time around—
uggh!………why!?!?………..Oh, the humanity…….
did anyone see Dane Cook's "Isolated Incident" last night? It was over hyped and advertised by comedy central. I thought I would switch back and forth between that and Breaking Bad. If was f'ing terrible. I don't mind dane cook, but i didn't laugh at one joke. Some of them i couldn't even tell were jokes. In one instance he set up a joke that took him two minutes to set up which he spent describing the acts leading up to and him having sex with a black girl which had such little payoff for the audience, and i am guessing the girl that was involved.
I am not prude, i am a raging libertarian and find no subject taboo, but i don't find just using sex involved words funny in and of themselves. there has to be a little more than saying the phrase "fat cock" to elicit laughter from me. I can't emphasize how bad it was. i suggest you save an hour of your life and skip it. Try some older demetri martin or jim gaffegan acts if you want to laugh.
Guess I'm in the minority here, but I really enjoyed the original Arthur. John Gielgud was possibly the best part of the movie, but Dudley Moore's laugh was wonderfully infectious. Heck, I even liked Liza Minnelli for 97 minutes.
On the other hand I can't stomach the idea of Brand playing the lead in a remake.
Remaking Arthur proves…well something, I'm not sure what, but it can't be good.
The only Dudley Moore movie I honestly liked was "Wholly Moses" which I happen to like a whole lot. John Gielgud was in that as well now that I think about it.
Huge difference between Brand and Kathy Griffin–Griffin looks like she bathes regularly.
I was shocked at how hilarious Brand was in Forgetting Sarah Marshall, because I'd seen him elsewhere before that and he was deadly unfunny. Maybe he should just stick to scripted material.
When it comes to Dudley Moore movies, I like Bedazzled, 10, and Unfaithfully Yours. Arthur annoyed me no end despite John Gielgud.
Oops, forgot about Bedazzled, I liked that one too. Not as much as Wholly Moses though obviously since I forgot all about it.
And by "show he's a stand-up comic to be reckoned with," Christian apparently means "embrace George W. Bush and all he stands for with a near-religious fervor."
Which would, come to think of it, be pretty funny.
Russell Brand needs to go to Comedy School & learn how to write a proper joke; jokes need a punchline, but Brand believes a punchline is something shocking. Shocking gimmicks can work, but they are limited tools in the art of a joke. The secret to a joke is that it must be unexpected so the audience does not see the punchline until afterwards…
That Hollywood is artistically and intellectually (not to mention morally–but that's not Arthur remake-based) bankrupt…No original ideas and even out of good ideas for remakes…
He is not the male Kathy Griffin, he is the male Amy Whinehouse! A no-talent hack who has no right being famous!
Kathy Griffin is D-List. Even she will admit that.
I heard a lot of people say that he stole Forgetting Sarah Marshall, but I didn't see it. He had some funny moments, "we've got to do something" is a great send up of faux socially conscious rock, but nothing else that made me take notice. In fact I thought Jonah Hill stole most of Russell's scenes playing the stalkerish Aldous Snow fan. Mila Kunis really stole the film.
Anyway, I think that he'll be a minor up and comer for a few years before he eventually dries up and blows away.
Moore did his best work when he was teamed with Peter Cook.. ( Derek and Clive, anyone?)
His American flicks blew, IMO.
I laughed at his cartoonish appearance, but this was before he opened his mouth…
Typically sad commentary from the right.
Time to realize that if you're going to bash every entertainer who disagrees with your dusty view of the world, you'll do nothing but.
Russell Brand is an amazing talent – and he's funny. You folks stick with network comedys – you'll feel more comfortable because you'll know when to laugh – along with the laughtrack. Of course there's the blue collar comedy tour – I'm sure you think that's just hysterical…….ugh.
Phil = UnHip Piffle
UnHip Piffle?
Good lord – not only are the ideas of the right stale but their dated vocabulary is rife with mold as well.
You forgot to describe my comment as balderdash,fiddle-faddle and hokum…..
and that's just not hep.
Unhip piffle (someday I hope to rise to jimmy's level of hip piffle)
He's too vulgar and downright mean. Look up what he did on Jonathan Ross' BBC radio show. Dis-gusting.
A blast from the past goin' out to UnHip Piff/Phil…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwPE-kRIW-k
Guess Who?
He looks and acts like a rabid ferret. Isn't that enough reason to ignore him?
I don't know Skip, I never met Mr. UH Piff/Phil. Have you?
The problem with envelope-pushing comics is that there's no envelope left to push.
Any Brand skeptic should spend some time researching his past or read his best seller Booky Wook and you will quickly discover he's multi-faceted and a right decent fellow especially considering what he's experienced and overcome. There's no comparing him to any American comic really, especially not the likes of Kathy Griffin. I like Kathy Griffin, but I have to say Brand is much more talented and intelligent and he doesn't pimp other stars to make money. There's no point in my continuing since most Bloggers or folks who choose to make rebuttal comments to the writings of others only see and write in conservative mainstream black or white. Besides, get used to Brand. He's taking America by storm.
I'm with you, USArtguy, only I'll go farther. I think Arthur is the best American comedy ever made. It not only fulfills the classical, stuffy, Aristotelian rules for what a comedy should be, but it's hilarious to boot. It features THE best collection of jokes ever assembled, delivered impeccably by all concerned (although Liza still grates slightly at times).
That the barbarians would even consider remaking Arthur fills me with an anger all out of proportion to the actual crime. Is nothing sacred anymore? And even if it's not, couldn't they at least find someone likable and funny to do the deed? I know I'm getting to be an old guy who the studios don't care about anymore, but I really am reaching the limit of what I'll put up with out of these people.
"you'll feel more comfortable because you'll know when to laugh – along with the laughtrack."
Fair enough. We take our cues from the laughtrack just like you take your cues from "fat cock" and "vagina." Sophisticated stuff there, Beavis. He he. He he.
Talk about mouth breathers…
I prefer Eddie Izzard. Does that make me a troglodyte?
Wow. ZING!
I'm in awe, Phil.
Phil what ideas of the Right do you speak of? The Left's "ideas" are older than Communism, yet this is where the Left continually get their ideas as they attempt to take the power away from the people, put the same power in the hands of the elites, then raise & create a whole slew of useless taxes for incompetent government bureaucracies. In the meantime, the leftover rotten bloated hippies try to relive their glory days indoctrinating innocent students in the classroom with Leftist propaganda as "truth."
Phil, you have to do better than that in trying to insult people. Use your brain. Think. Harder. HARDER. I know it's difficult after you have given your mind up to the Leftist's Collective.
For me, the jury is still out on this guy. I want to be more indignant about him, but despite the political stuff, the guy does occasionally hit "funny". I've seen his stand-up, and I've seen him interviewed on Graham Norton. Very interesting person – tho crass. I was very pleasantly surprised by the performance in BEDTIME STORIES, but haven't seen the Sara Marshall movie.
Face it, Folks, if we ignored every actor/comedian/singer that was political opposites, we'd have very limited entertainment. And I can ignore the political crap, since he's not even from here. They can't even fix their own politics, so their opinions on ours is irrelevent. The guy has made me laugh, and he's an interesting character study. So, I'll give him a bit more of a chance.
I don't get Dane Cook's humor either.
Russell Brand looks like the sad love child of Sid & Marty Kroft without the magic flute, talking trees, Witchipoo, Sigmund & the Sea Monsters, H.R. Puff-N-Stuff….
I don't mean to insult Sid & Marty Kroft since I loved their shows as a kid, but that is the most apt parallel.
I'll try again, since my first attempt vanished. Clearly you're a fan of Mr. Brand. You're posting here to share some of the reasons why. Fine. I can appreciate your position up to a point then we part ways.
You state "he's… a right decent fellow especially considering what he's experienced and overcome"
My take on the man after viewing his vicious attacks on Governor Palin and members of her family during his MTV rant is he's not even close to decent. No man I know behaves that way and is considered decent. Comedy or not. Battling his demons or not. There's no excuse, sorry. Should he one day grow up and recognize he crossed a line and subsequently apologize to the governor and her family for his actions, then he'd have my respect and would be a decent man.
continued…
Until such a time, let's just agree to disagree on Mr. Brand and his character traits.
In closing, I understand you may view my reply to you as having been written in a conservative mainstream black/white style, however I'm told that most liberals are open minded and tolerant of others they differ with. It is my hope you are one of these individuals and can appreciate my reply to you in the spirit of which it's intended.
I also love Eddie Izzard. His comedy, not his acting abilities.
What Brand has stated about Palin is no more vicious than what others have said publicly about her and her family. Why is it you feel he should apologize but you fail to include the long list of others who should also apologize? And why, in this country of Free Speech should ANYONE be expected to apologize?
No offense taken from your post. I am very much open minded and liberal in my thoughts and views. I also believe we are entitled to our opinions as individuals. What a horrible bore this world would be if we weren't all different. It's a shame we're not more tolerant of one another's differing views.
Just because he's not involved he's not entitled to voice his personal opinion?
Since *Brand* is the subject of the article written by CT, specifically the MTV rant by him, in which his attacks on Palin and family were made, I am responding as such. Because others said or did (in the case of the two guys from West Hollywood who hung SP in effigy) vicious things doesn't make it right or him less culpable for his actions.
As for the free speech issue, as long as it cuts both ways, I'm fine. My comments regarding an apology is due to my belief 'he crossed a line' If you feel it's not required and his rant was within the bounds of what's acceptable to you, I understand. I disagree, however that's my point. We agree to disagree.
For me, he loses credibility and I would not characterize him as 'a decent man'. Can you be as accepting and understanding of my point of view as well? That's the question?
Cool.
I agree.
Agreeing to disagree is acceptable to me.
Alright then…what's for dinner?
Funny you should ask that. Veggies and brown rice it is. How about you? Hmmm?
Holy crap! I've got the same turntable but it doesn't work!
I loved Sid & Marty Kroft, still do. Maybe that's why I'm so fond of material and characters like Brand and the Mighty Boosh gang. Great excapes all of them.
I started off with some portofino salami, jarlsberg swiss, a few bread sticks and topped it off with some tender bar-b-qued beef ribs along with a cold glass of Newman's lemonade
I'm a caveman of the first degree.
Now off to Evan Sayet's 'Right to Laugh' show @ the Laugh Factory to cheer on AlfonZo Rachel.
Big night…take care…
Sounds great, wish I was there. Long drive from San Diego to the Strip tho. I'll take some time to check Alfonzo out. Have fun tonite….everybody wang chung tonite….
Just wanted you to know, we had a great time @ the Laugh Factory. AlfonZo did a good job for his first time going solo on stage. It may have helped to have a few more in the audience (first game between Lakers/Nuggets may have contributed)
Regardless, we had fun.
Major surprise was when Evan brought me up on stage to do my 'Robert DeNiro as Jake LaMotta performing Kenny Loggins' House @ Pooh Corner' I had a blast and the audience seemed to enjoy it as well. Sorry my wife wasn't there to experience *that* moment. Oh well…next time.
All in all, a good time/night. Please check out Zo's video pieces @ BH or PJTV, politically may not be your cup o tea however he's authentic and has talent to boot.
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