"JIM GAFFIGAN: KING BABY"
DVD Review
by Kevin Carr
| MOVIE: ***** (out of 5 stars)
DVD EXPERIENCE: **** (out of 5 stars) STARRING Jim Gaffigan as HIMSELF Not Rated Studio: Comedy Central Back to DVD Review Home |  |
WHAT IT’S ABOUT
Following up his platinum-selling “Beyond the Pale” concert, Gaffigan gives us “King Baby.” With all new material, he waxes poetic about everything from escalators to bacon. Originally broadcast on Comedy Central, this extended DVD includes 30 minutes of extra standup.
WHAT I LIKED
I have been a Jim Gaffigan fan for years. Since I first saw him on “Late Night with Conan O’Brien” making jokes about Hot Pockets and manatees, I was hooked. Back then, you couldn’t even find a comedy CD for the guy... unless you drove to his native Indiana. But I endured, and over the years, the rest of America has learned what I already knew: Jim Gaffigan is a comedic genius.
Following up his platinum-selling “Beyond the Pale” concert, Gaffigan gives us “King Baby.” With all new material, he waxes poetic about everything from escalators to bacon. This is a guy who can find the humor in almost anything – especially if it’s some form of food. And the best part about Gaffigan’s comedy is that it’s not riddled with profanity or crass humor.
Don’t get me wrong. I like profanity and crass humor as much as the next guy, but I’ve never been a fan of comedians who rely on these things because they’re easy. Gaffigan manages to make things funny without the normal crutches that modern comedians use. Rather, he falls back on his own brand of funny, including his own self-deprecating style and the use of his high-pitched inner voice.
A true comedic genius doesn’t go over the top to get a laugh. A true comedic genius finds the funny in everyday, mundane items. And Gaffigan does this for a solid 71 minutes on this DVD without repeating his old material or ripping it off from anyone else.
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE
I have to admit that there is very little I dislike about Jim Gaffigan’s comedy. The ending punch line of the entire show is a bit soft, but considering the belly laughs you should get for the preceding 70 minutes, I wouldn’t worry too much about that one.
DVD FEATURES
This single DVD is loaded with extra Gaffigan brilliance. First up are three episodes of the Emmy-nominated “Pale Force” featuring the pants-peeing sidekick Conan O’Brien. There’s also four episodes of the Internet hit “Our Massive Planet.”
Additional features include a 30-minute XM/Sirius interview, “Friday Night Stand Up” Comedy Central interstitials for “The Sexy Tour” and “The Beyond the Pale Tour” and a mock interview with Gaffigan and a BBC journalist for his Sexy Tour.
WHO’S GOING TO LIKE THIS MOVIE
People who like to laugh.
