I jumped at the opportunity to review Russell Brand in New York City, knowing it could answer the lingering question that's been bothering me since the hype for Forgetting Sarah Marshall. I finally had the chance to know for sure if Russell Brand lived up to the shameless hype boasted by his persona, or if he was just a huge douche. His performance at the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards was a disaster. He seems to play it off as American audiences not being ready for his "edgy" humor, but even the average viewer could see that it was just a comedian bombing. It's unfair to judge a performer who is out of his element, hence my excitement in popping in the DVD and finally putting an end to the Russell Brand douche debate (the "douchebacle" if you will).
Love him or hate him, Russell Brand secretes charm and charisma. However, his charisma doesn't translate well into the world of stand up comedy. Brand's brand of comedy is about as hilarious as the awful pun that leads this sentence. It's much like watching your third funniest friend drunkenly wandering on stage during an open-mic. Sure HE is funny, but his bits seem poorly worked out and in dire need of punching up. Russell Brand in New York City is shot in the traditional Comedy Central stand up fashion. It looks exactly how you would imagine (which is a positive aspect). When you're watching a DVD of someone talking, any noticeable cinematic liberties tend to take away from the stand up act.
Extras:
Russell Brand in New York City comes with three extras: More footage from the performance with him bantering with a drunk fan, "An Englishman in New York" featurette, and footage from the previously mentioned 2008 MTV Video Music Awards. "An Englishman in New York" gives a glimpse of his actual appeal, his off the cuff wit and unscripted likability. The other two bonus features are just afterthoughts added so the actual featurette doesn't get lonely in the "extras" menu.
Overall:
Unless you already really like the guy and are willing to look past the bad material just to watch him pace and talk, I really suggest giving it a pass. Find a good comedian that works more on his act than his image. You'll be able to pick out their DVD because the guy on the cover will look more like a bowling alley regular than a male model.
ComicsOnline gives Russell Brand in New York City 1 1/2 out of 5 confirmed douches.
