JOHN MULANEY: NEW IN TOWN
Not Rated
MSRP: Amazon has it for only $11.99
Running Time: 60 minutes
What’s Going On?
John Mulaney, rising young comic and writer for SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE, delivers his first stand-up special. He tackles subjects such as the joys of strong Jewish women, drinking too much and awkward encounters at the doctor’s office.
Who’s In It?
Well, just John Mulaney. It is a stand-up special, after all.
If You Like…:
Good comedy. I’ve always liked Mulaney’s work (he co-writes the Stefon bits on SNL with Bill Hader) and appearances on various programs but he really, really impressed me here. His young, cheerful attitude and naive sensibilities make Mulaney appear like an overgrown, carefree child, a fact that he states in his opening. He’s not dour, he’s not pissed off at the world. He observes his surroundings with a gee-whiz mentality that’s hard not to love.
But there’s more! John Mulaney is quick-witted, smart and self-deprecating. Dressed in a slick suit (he looks like he just walked out of a modern adaptation of THE MUSIC MAN) with an energy matched by few, Mulaney tackles one subject after another in a rapid, excited spirit that never feels tired or fake.
Special Features:
Special Friends Commentary has Mulaney joined by comedian Anthony Jeselnik and Dan Mintz as they all watch the special together. Jeselnik and Mintz never miss an opportunity to make fun of Mulaney, who takes it well. It’s an amusing feature but not as good as…
Mintz/Mulaney: The Interview, in which the aforementioned Mintz sits down with Mulaney for an uncomfortable, bizarre (and staged) conversation about comedy and success. Awwwwwwwkward.
The Technical Gist:
The DVD screener I was sent looks just fine. Stand-up specials don’t have to knock your socks off. As long as the visuals are crisp and the audio is clear then it gets a passing grade.
The Verdict:
NEW IN TOWN proves that John Mulaney is one of the best young comics around. This is a supremely impressive special and promises many great things from its star. While there could have been a few more special features, the meat of this DVD – the special – is outstanding. Comedy is an aquired taste so you might not want to buy this right off the bat but you should most definitely QUEUE IT.
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