MovieChat Forums > Chris Rock: Tamborine (2018) Discussion > Lazy, uninspired, sometimes insightful (...

Lazy, uninspired, sometimes insightful (spoilers)

posted 7 years ago by tyboulder2 (101)
3 replies | jump to latest

The beginning 1/2 felt weak. His long anit-white shtick probably didn’t get many laughs becaus he never gave any examples or situations to make it funny. Just saying ‘white people are the devil’ but leaving it at that feels more like racism (or really lazy writing) than it does comedy.

Also, he’s been using his anti-anti-bullying material for so long I’m surprised it surfaced in this show. It wasn’t new, and he had no new take on it. His jokes about gun violence are another example of flat, dull ideas. The part about hunting with grandpa was funny, it after that it felt more like cynical complaining than comedy. The best material was his advice on marriage and his jokes about his own relationships.

Overall it was a disappointing set. It had little of the energy he’s known for. A lot of his material should’ve been cut and replaced with new ideas, perspectives and original jokes.

[–] filmtenk (765) 7 years ago

It did take a little while to warm up but I ended up laughing a lot. One thing is certain: Chris Rock is immune to tabloid gossip. All his dirty laundry was out in full display here.

[–] maximmm (3335) 7 years ago

I agree - the best part was at the end. It's interesting, because it wasn't particularly funny at the end - but the guilt he's expressed in regards to failing his marriage - it was worth something.

[–] TandyMan (11096) 7 years ago

This was a lot like later Carlin material. When comedians are around long enough, and famous enough, their material tends to become more Spoken Word and less Comedy. Chris is clearly going through all sorts of issues and doing all kinds of therapy, and this sort of thing even effected Howard Stern's show. It just ruins the comedy. You put so much of yourself into something, it's no longer a show. It's a bizarre activist/group meeting. I think Chris dropped a lot of truth, and maybe said some things that needed saying, but it wasn't the right platform and it wasn't standup comedy and back in the day, I don't know if HBO even would have aired this show.