Review of Dylan Moran: Monster Live

Introduction

It`s a sign of approaching Yuletide festivities when the comedy DVDs start appearing on shop shelves. At no other time of the year do companies unleash stand up comics to stampede through the living rooms of the nation. It`s an ideal gift for a dad, but also serves as an antidote to the post Christmas let down, when you find out that the batteries are not included, the sweater Granny knitted doesn`t fit, that you`ll be eating turkey sandwiches until March, that the Christmas spirit left your house on the stroke of midnight on December 25th and you now have to face the next few days until New Year trapped with your family. Yes, a comedy DVD may just keep you from going psychotic.

My first real experience of Dylan Moran is probably the same as most people`s, his performance as the cantankerous, alcohol soaked, chain smoking, grotty bookshop owner Bernard Black in the divine comedy Black Books. This disc gives you the chance to see Dylan Moran as he really is, as he expounds on life in general and the little annoyances that it can bring.

Video

The picture is presented in a 1.78:1 anamorphic transfer. It`s clear and sharp and reflects the original television broadcast. I have no complaints about the clarity at all.

Audio

The sound is presented in DD 2.0, and the dialogue is clear throughout. What more do you want? Well actually subtitles might have been nice, but you`ll have to make do without.

Features

During the show, large cartoon images are projected on a screen at the back of the stage. You get a chance to get a decent look at them in an image gallery on this disc.

Conclusion

Dylan Moran doing stand up is a little unkempt, smokes on stage, appears a little tipsy and delivers his material with a healthy dose of irritation. He`s nothing like Bernard Black then. The Monster show is 90 minutes of sharp observational material with the occasional hint of the surreal. His style takes a little getting used to, but he more than delivers the laughs. Dylan Moran has a facility with the English language that is equally lyrical and violent. He bludgeons you with imagery until you have no choice but to laugh. It`s a slightly skewed look at every day life that the best observational comedians have, stuff that sounds obvious when you hear it, and you wonder why you never realised the truth of it before. Dylan Moran: Monster fits the bill as a stocking filler, and it may just get you through those dark days of Christmas safe and sound. Let`s face it, where else will you hear about fellating smurfs.