The last time I heard a really good stand up comedy routine was when Martin Lawrence released his live DVD, "RUNTELDAT." The sad truth is, I believe stand up comedy is a dying form of entertainment. Some of the best in the business are either no longer with us, like Redd Foxx and Sam Kinison, or they haven't been on a stage in God knows how long. When was the last time we had a good two hour show from Robin Williams, Eddie Murphy, Billy Crystal, Whoopi Goldberg, George Carlin, Bill Cosby or Andrew Dice Clay? Yeah, I can't remember either. Sure, I know what you're thinking. There's a lot of people out there who are still doing stand up, right? I know that as well as you do. But, the problem is, they all suck. They may get a good joke off every now and then, I'll give 'em that much. It's nothing to write home about though. No one seems to have an edge anymore. I'm sure you can rattle off a name or two of someone you recently saw who you thought was exceptionally funny. I'll bet you that person, in their best moment, couldn't match anything you'll find on the Richard Pryor box set. Do you wanna know why...because they don't have an edge. Rodney Dangerfield...you've heard his routine a million times. But, he can still make you laugh because he knows how to deliver a line. Andrew Dice Clay, he made being vulgar an art form. Robin Williams, you really can't get any better than that. Bill Cosby, he wasn't dirty and he took his time getting to the punch line. But, the man could tell a story. I could go on and on here with this explanation. I think you got the point though. If you didn't get the point, let me spell it out for you. I said it once and I'll say it again...no one has an edge. Stand up comedy isn't about getting up on stage and telling a few jokes. Comedy should be a full assault on the senses. My four year old child can make people laugh. It's no big deal. Your grandmother could probably do it. When you get up on that stage, it should have the energy of a rock concert or a major fucking wrestling event, kind of like when Hulk Hogan went up against Andre The Giant for the first time. You've gotta come out there and hit the audience with everything you've got. Make 'em laugh hard enough to piss their pants. I haven't seen that in a long, long time...with the exception of the Martin Lawrence DVD.

Well, I've got a DVD right here that will sit on my shelf right next to Martin Lawrence, Jim Breuer's "Heavy Metal Comedy." My Bible says, "Thou shalt not take the name of John Belushi in vain." Back in the day, Belushi WAS comedy. Maybe not stand up comedy. But, you get the point. I won't compare him to anyone unless I really mean it...and the person in question really, really deserves it. Breuer can be compared to John Belushi in the sense that his act is very aggressive. He throws his whole body into his routine. I'm sure he had to hit an air tank after this performance. He's lit from the word go when he comes out and does an AC/DC routine, complete with a three piece band. He doesn't even light the fuse. The curtain goes up and the bomb explodes and through his whole performance, he always maintains a connection to his audience...right up until the end, the climax, the big finish..."The Party (Tequila Routine)," which has to be seen/heard to be appreciated. After the performance, there's a 50 minute documentary, which takes you on the road and behind the scenes with Jim Breuer. At times, I found this a bit boring. But, for the most part, it was rather entertaining. Once you start watching, you'll see it through to the end. I made the mistake of slappin' this into my DVD player during the wee hours of the morning. I had only planned to watch the performance. But, I got a few minutes into the documentary and the sun was coming up when I finally went to bed. Point made, point taken, end of story. http://www.jimbreuer.com

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