User Reviews

I will be the first to acknowledge that Russell Brand is not for everyone, I don't believe he's even an acquired taste; he's crass, vulgar, goes way beyond politically incorrect, and "boundaries" are clearly not something he subscribes to. If homosexuality, obscene gestures and references, and pot shots at world leaders and religion are off limits for you, you will definitely find him to be unbearable to listen to, and watching would be just as painful. However, if you can put all those things aside for a bit and really listen to what Russell has to say during his "Messiah Complex" show, you may be surprised by his insight and views on some very relevant topics. Yes his delivery is funny, especially when talking about himself and his addictions, he takes self-deprecating to a new level, but what really blew me away were his seemingly incoherent ramblings that were in fact very insightful and made a lot of sense (to me).

I am no prude, but some of the things he said and did gave me an "ewe" moment or two, but those moments were few and well worth sitting through to get to the other stuff. So if you're up for the challenge, put the kids to bed (or better yet, get them out of the house), give the parents a drink or a sedative, and watch Russell Brand; Messiah Complex.

I rated this 8 only because as much as I adore him (crush on the ultimate (really) bad boy) he does mumble a bit and seems to get off focus on occasion. Having said that, his delivery was still brilliant and never seemed rehearsed or forced.

Having heard audio of Russell Brand on the Democracy Now radio show and before the British Parliament, as well as hearing him going off on US cable news shows, I have developed both a grudging respect and appreciation of him. He is capable of being both extremely clever and extremely funny, sometimes at the same time.

But there are also huge gaps in his education and maturity, and during the course of this performance film, these gaps are on display a number of times.

The opening conceit of this show, the concept of the hero, is a worthy topic and Brand shows guts and wit by sharing an unflattering anecdote regarding Mahatma Ghandi, for instance (his point is not to destroy the reputation of Ghandi...his point is that all so-called 'heroes' are human beings with human foibles...).

At the beginning of the show, you really think he's going to go deep and really interesting. Which he frequently does, but never quite as far as I think he is actually capable of.

And there is plenty of laugh out loud stuff, for sure.

But he also has this embarrassing juvenile tendency to be crude and/or offensive just to show he can be crude and offensive. Many comedians also do this, but whereas history shows that George Carlin was right, I doubt history will make Russell's crudeness seem insightful. To make it clear, I am talking about crudeness that simply isn't even funny...not because it is crude, just stuff that is unfunny.

Fortunately, almost every time Brand crosses the line into crudeness for the sake of crudeness alone, he eventually crosses back into the funny/interesting stuff before you decide to turn off the video.

The only time he doesn't cross back again is in the final bit. In the end, he decides to pantomime a giant, talking clitoris, which could theoretically be funny, but in this case, it is Jerry-Lewis-Level- Unfunny. So pay attention to the running time and to the counter as you play this video, and really, you can turn it off during this portion and not miss anything good.

It's too bad the video ends on such a sophomoric note, because there are so many brilliant bits. But I guess that's what happens with a performer who is still hopefully in the upward stage of his development.

I was a fan of Brand's from the beginning- brilliant at the hyperactive speed of light, like Robin Williams but even more so. In early guest appearances over here his impromptu command of the language and quick wit were astonishing (shades of Dudley Moore). He was also humble and I found that endearing. OK, so it was an act, I STILL liked him. But I HATE the gratuitous designed-to-shock sexual elements of his stand-up routine.

The comedy, taking the mickey out of himself, lamely (hilariously) likening himself to Gandhi, Malcolm X, Che Guevara and Christ, was inspired in many ways- as were his incisive observations on martyrdom, advertising, capitalism, and politics. But WHY must they be punctuated with irrelevant and purely gratuitous sexual references- every conceivable act, in graphic detail, from rimming to shagging his CAT? I'm no prude, I just found them unnecessary, distracting and CREEPY. Likening Malcolm X's masterful ability to quell a riot and disperse a crowd by simply raising his hand to Russell jerking off in public?

He's written extensively about his sexual addiction/obsession (I read his autobiography, awful, in the same vein). Though aware of his problem, he cannot control, inhibit or censor himself. It's NOT of the same ilk as Richard Pryor making fun of himself after setting himself on fire smoking crack- he was in recovery and the comedy was after the fact- self-disclosing, hilarious, and even moving, inspiring. Brand is still in the throes of his delusions/obsessions- he's BRAGGING, trying to shock like some 13-year-old, pathetic. The LAST thing I want to see are his gyrations and gangly pelvic thrusts. Moreover, his comedy IMO would be much-improved if he could CONTAIN himself. Time to grow up.

A closely related gripe is the sexism of many of his comments, using the "C" word liberally and other words derisive of women descriptively and to ridicule others. He's smart enough not to do it, and it smacks of hostility towards women. Were this not the case he would give equal time to gender neutral (e.g., words for the anus or excrement) or "masculine" derisive terms (bollocks, for example, and obscene euphemisms for the PENIS)- but he doesn't. You needn't be Freud for that to stand out like a sore thumb- indeed, to cotton on to the subtext (anger, self-belittling) that underpins nearly every bit, he continually debases himself. His routine is one big cry for help.

I found Brand's choice of facts to include about Gandhi's relations with his wife peculiar. He mentioned that Gandhi married her at 13. What he didn't say was that for years she pleaded with him for sex, was devastated by his decision to become celibate, after they'd enjoyed a satisfying sex life and had two children. After making that decision Gandhi regularly had young nude girls brought to his bed, slept with them naked to test his resolve and self- control. Lots of comic possibilities there, but maybe partly because no sex took place, and Brand couldn't gyrate accordingly, of all the stories involving Mrs. Gandhi he instead chose the one that involved Gandhi KILLING her (denying her medication that would've saved her life). UGH. THEN, he likens that act to it being preferable for his wife instead of him to go downstairs and confront an intruder, and get murdered in the process. Tee- hee. "I can get ANOTHER f***ing wife!" A long way to go for THAT. And WHY??

Then at the end, he has the nerve to say (with patent insincerity) how wonderful women are, and finally says: "I HAVE to say that or I won't get laid after the show!" Perhaps those who live vicariously through Russell Brand and envy his many assignations with random women find his braggadocio heartening but for me it's just sad, and mars both his comic genius and his humanity. I think others are so bedazzled by his machine-gun wit, verbal virtuosity, and potent charm that they overlook the rest. I like him a lot, I wish he'd get his act together in more ways than one.