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Greg Behrendt: Greg Behrendt Is That Guy from That Thing
I'm actually still pretty into him
Reviewer's Bias*
Loves: Stand-up
Likes: Greg Behrendt
Dislikes: Self-help crap
Hates: "Sex and the City"
The Story So Far...
Greg Behrendt is a veteran of the stand-up circuit, but is best known for a self-help relationship book he co-authored, He's Just Not That Into You, and a consulting gig on Sex and the City. Despite such seemingly douchey credits, his stand-up is very funny and will appeal to just about any adult, by focusing on the vagaries of relationships and life at large. He previously released Greg Behrendt is Uncool on DVD in November of 2005, and DVDTalk has a review.
The Show
Like the previous DVD, this special, shot in San Jose, is all about life and relationships, with many tangents into the absurd. The relationship material is a bit more universal this time, focusing simply on the give and take between men and women, instead of on the oddities of marriage and more advanced couples. The bits about anal sex are hysterical, as are the suggestions about what to say during sex. Though his reaction to some awful sounds in bed could have easily been performed by Dane Cook, and the start to his segment about the oft-discussed "free pass" celebrity fling has been heard before, but somehow, he manages to make it funnier than before. It's partially the energy he puts into these jokes, and partially his everyguy likability.
Spreading his comedy wings, he touches on some bizarre items like Criss Angel (his jokes about how a magician should react to their tricks is fantastic), two-sided cracker pretzels and poop. What's great about Behrendt's act is his ability to work in the material he's known for, namely his observations on the world of couples, into a stand-up style. So when he talks about how his wife got him a "murse" and offers a philosophical stance on a man-purse, saying "If you have to put 'man' in front of it, it ain't," it's both smart and funny. His bit about God's thoughts on anal sex is beautifully blasphemous as well.
Nothing here had me laughing out loud, though I certainly laughed audibly at times, as his smart-ass advice to people asking obvious questions was great, as is his lengthy story about his competition with John Krasinski for the love of his wife. I will admit, with some surprise and embarrassment, that the following bit, about the dangers of misjudging flatulence, also earned quite a few laughs. It's probably because it fits in his wheelhouse of dealing with the little annoyances in life (represented elsewhere on this disc by his bits on flying and the word ridiculous.)
If anything doesn't work it's his final bit, when he talks about how his attempts to make his kids laugh have affected his life. It's cute, but not nearly as funny as the rest of his set. The real problem though is it feels like it was just slapped in at random, following two lengthy runs that seemed to be building to a climax, only to stall out on a family gag. There's definitely something to be said about the rhythm of stand-up, and it felt abandoned here.
The DVD
Packed in a standard keepcase with an old-school-inspired cover and promo insert, the 57-minute Greg Behrendt is That Guy from That Thing is a one-disc release. The disc features a static, full-frame main menu, with options to watch the show, select chapters and view special features. The scene-selection menu has a text list of chapter stops, while there are no audio options, subtitles or closed captioning.
The Quality
The anamorphic widescreen transfer is solid, with a clean image that sports bright, appropriate color and a healthy amount of fine detail. Like last time, Behrendt is constantly moving, and despite the amount of movement, the disc keeps up, with no issues with digital artifacts (nor any dirt or damage.
After getting a Dolby Digital 2.0 track last time, this disc offers up a full 5.1 presentation. It doesn't utilize the extra channels much, and separation isn't optimal, as Behrendt and the audience are full-powered in the center and front speakers, while the rear get a muffled Behrendt and a stronger crowd sound. All of it is clear and distortion-free.
The Extras
There are a few extras included, starting with a trio of deleted jokes that run a touch over 10 minutes. The first two are funny, thanks to his uncomfortable interactions with people as a misidentified celebrity, while the third (and shortest) was best left off this main feature.
The other extra is a set of six webisodes of "Ask Greg," his online advice show, which was previously available on his web site. Running between two and three minutes each, they aren't quite as good as his stand-up, as it feels like he's trying a bit too hard, mixing smart-ass comments with advice, while on-screen titles comment on what he's saying (much like during "The Word" on The Colbert Report. It's not bad, it's just not as good as his comedy.
The Bottom Line
Though light on content at just under an hour in length, this special is a lot of fun, as Behrendt is as emotive and grounded a comic as they come, making it very easy for just about anyone to connect with. That his material is all over the map, covering everything from flying to magicians to anal sex to Jim from The Office only enhances the accessibility. The DVD is solid overall, and the extras, though brief, are enjoyable. If you're a fan of Behrendt's, it's a must-see, but it's certainly one to check out if you just want some good laughs.
Francis Rizzo III is a native Long Islander, where he works in academia. In his spare time, he enjoys watching hockey, writing and spending time with his wife, daughter and puppy.Follow him on Twitter
*The Reviewer's Bias section is an attempt to help readers use the review to its best effect. By knowing where the reviewer's biases lie on the film's subject matter, one can read the review with the right mindset.
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