what.
I apologize if this review is spastic, as I honestly don't know where to start with Bo Burnham. There are so many different things to say. So I think I'll start with that. He has so many things to say! This guy is beyond random. In one second, he pretends to be a singing Godzilla, in another, he talks about God, and in another, he pretends to masturbate. There is really no way to see where he is going next, and you know, that actually sounds nice. A comedian that isn't predictable. Sounds great in theory, but it can be a huge detriment at times, as your mind isn't quick enough sometimes to pick up the joke he's trying to tell. It would've been nice to be able to follow some sort of train of thought to keep the topics easy to pick up. Yet, while I say it would've been nice to have some smoother transitions in between topics, it really would take away a lot of what the show's about. You see, the show likes being random and jarring. If it weren't random, a lot of the jokes would be fall flat because they rely on the strangeness of the previous one. I will say, however, that there is one segment that combines random comedy with a strange sense of progression. That moment is one of the only ones, though.
I guess that's a good segue into another thing I'd like to talk about. As random as the show wants to be, it becomes progressively predictable. While you don't know exactly what content is coming up, you can guess the type of content that's arriving. An example of this happens when he reads a sweet poem to the audience, only to have it end with a dead protagonist. All of these switches are sudden too, adding a bit of shock value to the joke. In this instance, I wasn't going to guess that the main character was going to die, but I knew that something bad was going to happen. When it's at its best, it's witty, at it's worst, it feels like Bo's pulling the rug out from underneath you. Comedians do this all the time, but Bo almost always does it, and it certainly can become a drag in some parts. I know some people that love these kinds of jokes, but I know some that absolutely hate it. If you're one of those people, then steer clear. Also, be warned, there is a LOT of irony in his jokes. So much so that you might get sick of it. That being said, at least the delivery is excellent.
Speaking of delivery, his stage presence in general is something to be admired. He is incredibly convincing in his message. It is so good that I didn't even notice it at first, but I caught it once when I thought to myself, Why is this part so great? In the instant that I thought that, I realized what he was actually saying was just ok, but the way he said it was amazing. The little facial expressions and body movements he makes with each remark really go a long way. This showmanship can be best seen when he reads poetry. Simply put, he is passionate and it shows.
When he isn't performing stand-up or reading poetry, he is singing. Bo Burnham can sing quite a tune. While I might not know much about a singer's technical prowess, I can say with certainty that he is very comfortable to listen to, and blends well with his piano. His entire set pieces in general are something to behold. His songs set the tone, and his voice carries the message, while the effects wrap everything up in a polished bow. Bo and his effects team really deserve more recognition, because none miss each others cue, and that is outstanding considering how much of his material relies on it. His piece on the two halves of the brain is an excellent example of when every aspect of his show comes together in one incredible performance.
He has great songs, but something about the final one bugs me. He closes the show by performing another song, and in it, he meshes all the complaints and doubts from the outsiders in his life into one. While most of it is funny, there are definitely some intentionally heavy moments in which you really feel sorry for the guy. So this makes him more relatable right? What's wrong with that? Normally this would be a great thing, but it ends up contradicting the messages he threw at you the entire show. Without spoiling any of the jokes, I can say that he tells the audience not to trust him, and that his stage persona is only an act. He tricks the audience with his deceitful humor the entire show, then has the audacity to ask for the audience's sympathy in the end. This I believe, has the potential to break the show, taint anything you've seen before that song. One complaints thrown at him is his seemingly arrogant form that he takes when he's performing. A lot of that comes from audiences thinking he likes to seem smarter than them by using big words and witty jokes. I personally, don't see it that way, but I can see arrogance in performing the song I just mentioned. It's ironic that he does his skit, a skit that asks not to see him as self-centered, when he himself is being selfish by doing the skit.
Maybe I am looking at the last piece too harshly... after all, it is a comedy show. It's supposed to be for fun right? Plus, it was quite catchy. Also, maybe that song was meant for us to examine our own lives, and take inspiration from his lyrics. I wish I knew. His brand of comedy deals with a lot of self examination, and going a little bit further when it comes to thinking about the society we live in. Perhaps Bo just wants the audience to think about that last song, not necessarily understand in completely, but just think about it and how it fits in society in general. Or maybe Bo could care less and just wants you to have a good time...
I've thought it over hundreds of times, and while I think people will love him for the song, I can't help but feel a sense of arrogance. But that's just me...
Ah, but was the show funny. Yes... yes it was. Kind of. If you aren't into the humor I described earlier, you'll be hard pressed to do a lot of laughing. There was a good long while when all I could manage was a smile. Don't let that discourage you, however, because even though I wasn't laughing, I was still having a great time. There is plenty else in the show to keep you entertained. Bo's showmanship is really something to marvel, and if you don't think the songs are funny, you'll still think they were catchy. I suggest people give this show a try, you just gotta give him a bit of your trust along the way.
RATING: 8.5/10
When he isn't performing stand-up or reading poetry, he is singing. Bo Burnham can sing quite a tune. While I might not know much about a singer's technical prowess, I can say with certainty that he is very comfortable to listen to, and blends well with his piano. His entire set pieces in general are something to behold. His songs set the tone, and his voice carries the message, while the effects wrap everything up in a polished bow. Bo and his effects team really deserve more recognition, because none miss each others cue, and that is outstanding considering how much of his material relies on it. His piece on the two halves of the brain is an excellent example of when every aspect of his show comes together in one incredible performance.
He has great songs, but something about the final one bugs me. He closes the show by performing another song, and in it, he meshes all the complaints and doubts from the outsiders in his life into one. While most of it is funny, there are definitely some intentionally heavy moments in which you really feel sorry for the guy. So this makes him more relatable right? What's wrong with that? Normally this would be a great thing, but it ends up contradicting the messages he threw at you the entire show. Without spoiling any of the jokes, I can say that he tells the audience not to trust him, and that his stage persona is only an act. He tricks the audience with his deceitful humor the entire show, then has the audacity to ask for the audience's sympathy in the end. This I believe, has the potential to break the show, taint anything you've seen before that song. One complaints thrown at him is his seemingly arrogant form that he takes when he's performing. A lot of that comes from audiences thinking he likes to seem smarter than them by using big words and witty jokes. I personally, don't see it that way, but I can see arrogance in performing the song I just mentioned. It's ironic that he does his skit, a skit that asks not to see him as self-centered, when he himself is being selfish by doing the skit.
Maybe I am looking at the last piece too harshly... after all, it is a comedy show. It's supposed to be for fun right? Plus, it was quite catchy. Also, maybe that song was meant for us to examine our own lives, and take inspiration from his lyrics. I wish I knew. His brand of comedy deals with a lot of self examination, and going a little bit further when it comes to thinking about the society we live in. Perhaps Bo just wants the audience to think about that last song, not necessarily understand in completely, but just think about it and how it fits in society in general. Or maybe Bo could care less and just wants you to have a good time...
I've thought it over hundreds of times, and while I think people will love him for the song, I can't help but feel a sense of arrogance. But that's just me...
Ah, but was the show funny. Yes... yes it was. Kind of. If you aren't into the humor I described earlier, you'll be hard pressed to do a lot of laughing. There was a good long while when all I could manage was a smile. Don't let that discourage you, however, because even though I wasn't laughing, I was still having a great time. There is plenty else in the show to keep you entertained. Bo's showmanship is really something to marvel, and if you don't think the songs are funny, you'll still think they were catchy. I suggest people give this show a try, you just gotta give him a bit of your trust along the way.
RATING: 8.5/10
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