Let's put to one side the hypocrisy of Gervais, who's now bought into the celebrity culture he tried to build his career mocking in an attempt to ingratiate himself to a young audience. Let's also put to one side the tedious 'joke' that he tried desperately to brand his 'faux' arrogance (how many times can you do that and have people believe you're 'only pretending'?). Let's just simply look at what's on offer here, and whether it's any good.

The answer is no. I winced several times while watching this, not only at how unfunny the material was (cheap, lazy writing with the trademark Ricky Gervais pops at the handicapped, diseased and so on) but that the man himself had lost touch to the extent that he didn't even realise. You end up feeling quite embarrassed for him. Oh sure, the audience laughs, but it's not hard to find an audience who'll will themselves to enjoy something if you overcharge for tickets as much as Gervais. Even Jim Davidson's got a career, for crying out loud.

From the way he gets his beer out, as if to say 'I'm still one of you', to the his jokes about cancer and so on, all under this tedious cloak of 'irony', with a little nudge and a wink as if to say 'we shouldn't really be laughing at this, but we realise that so it's ok', any well adjusted person will sit stony faced and conclude that The Office must have been one of those flukey moments of genius that happened to fall into the lap of a man who is essentially talentless.

Ricky Gervais does not cut it as a Stand Up comic. He and his show is contrived and boring.People do make a lot out of his 'offensive' jokes about social taboos. But whereas social terrorists like Chris Morris are entertaining and witty, Gervais routine seems tired, pointless and just plain boring. And as this performance clocks in at 50 minutes, this viewer was left feeling a bit cheated.


This la set from Gervais features an urban myth (the sauce bottle) that was old when I was at school 20 years ago; a story about a bout of diarrhoea and an inappropriate piece of clothing that Spike Milligan was telling decades ago (Spike's story ended with a pink cardigan and a trilby) and the deconstruction of nursery rhymes that look very weak in comparison to his riff on Genesis in Animals.
I loved the Office, and i suspect that Gervais is a one trick pony.
The extras on this dvd feature an interview with Karl Pilkington, and he is much funnier than Gervais.

This is Ricky's second live stand-up show (recorded at the Palace Theatre, London in 2004), and it's every bit as good as his first. Don't be put off by the title - Ricky doesn't bore us with predictable political postulating here.

It's his usual mix of squirm-in-your seat, observational and goofy humor - and mentioning those unmentionable taboos that other comedians dare not enter in to!

My favorite bit was the sketch about Humpty Dumpty - I've seen the DVD times now, and this bit still makes me laugh till I cry.
Also funny when he mentions his mum thinking his Che Guevara poster was a picture of Robert Lindsay!
But just watch it and see for yourself - a great DVD to see on a Friday night with a friend (or two) and a few drinks!

Who says this guy is the funniest comedian around? Sure the office was good and extras has it's moments but all the stand up stuff I've seen him do has left me embarrassed for the guy, and that includes his stint on the Diana concert....his character wasn't even funny on the Simpsons!!! Animals was dull and this is dreary..it truly makes me squirm, simpering to an audience does not comedy make.
The guy will obviously only be remembered for his David Brent dance routine .
It's a case of the kings new clothes methinks.

...but all you cinics need to watch this again with an open mind. So he says the "C" word? So his jokes are pretty risky? If you're easily offended then you should have taken notice of the 18 certificate. This may be un-PC, but it's not malicious

Gervais is not a one trick pony. He is an awesome writer, actor, director, and stand up. An ace of all trades, really. I won't go into too much detail as you've probably already seen this - it's been shown on Channel 4 a number of times since its release in 2004, and provided you don't watch it too often it stays funny unlike a lot of stand up shows. The extras featured on the DVD are sheer brilliance, Karl Pilkington may seem like your average simpleton but he will have you in stitches. And if he doesn't, then you feel too much for the Elephant Man.

And please, don't compare Ricky Gervais to Peter Kay. Peter Kay is funny in his own right, but he relies FAR too much on nostalgic TV, in-jokes, catchphrases and his apparently Irish mother.

"Garlic bread?!"...



...*awkward silence/tumbleweed*