Reviewed by Robert Hull
Stars Dara O'Briain | Written by Dara O'Briain
UK certification 15 | UK RRP £19.99 | DVD Region 2 | Runtime 94 minutes | Directed by Paul Wheeler
Recorded at the 3,500 capacity Hammersmith Apollo earlier this year, Dara O'Briain Talks Funny … provides further evidence that the comedian — popular for presenting BBC2’s satirical quiz show Mock the Week — is a major draw on the live comedy circuit. O'Briain has an engaging onstage presence, and while none of his material leaves you dazzled at his sheer comic invention, he’s a comedian who makes a crowd feel relaxed and ready to spend time in his company.
The show itself works best when O'Briain is interacting with the audience. He presses audience members for information and incorporates their responses into the show, yet is astute enough not to patronise or poke needless fun at their expense. Instead their lives become the springboard for O'Briain to improvise new material, which then feeds into the pre-written material of his show. He’s got some great topics too; good bacteria versus bad bacteria, homeopathy, men’s shaving products, and best of all, the hotel turn down team. You’ll never see a chambermaid the same way after this.
The 90-plus minutes pass refreshingly quickly — many comics can’t really cope with the rigours of a rock concert length performance — and the overall feeling is one of seeing a great stand-up at the top of his game.
EXTRAS *** An amusing selection that offers nothing quirky or different but which represents really good value. Live in Dublin is over 50 minutes of footage from a far more Irish-orientated set, but is effectively another gig for free. David and Dara’s In-Vision Commentary and Drinking Game is half an hour’s silliness with Dara and Peep Show’s David Mitchell watching the video and having the odd drink. While The Littlest Extra is just that — a very short gag at the expense of homeopathy.