Chris Rock: Bring the Pain

Chris Rock's Bring the Pain may be the funniest stand-up comedy I have ever had the pleasure of experiencing. The barbs are excrutiatingly accurate, raunchy, and hilarious, and are (no kidding) extraordinarily thought-provoking.

Just so you know where my commentary is coming from, I am a 40 year old, white, middle-class male from Houston, Texas. I have seen Rock's talk show on HBO, and haven't really cared for it. I thought he was reasonably entertaining on Saturday Night Live, but nothing spectacular. When it comes to stand-up comedy, I'm a big fan of circa 1978 Steve Martin stand-up (Wild and Crazy Guy) and I love Seinfeld's 'I'm Telling You for the Last Time'.

Do yourself a favor, rent/buy 'Bring the Pain' and prepare yourself for some mind-blowing, prejudice-shattering, side-splitting hilarity.

What does this mean? Does Chris Rock make black people less intimidating to whites simply because he points out their weakness? Last time I saw "Live at the Appolo" on TV, all I saw was a lot of crotch-grabbing and swagger and not much thought-provoking thoughts like Chris Rock presents in this show. If your black, laugh at yourself. If your white, laugh too, but realize it's your everyday actions that "Bring the Pain."

Chris Rock's Bring the Pain is his best standup yet. Bigger and Blacker had some good things, but Chris' material is so well thought out, planned and executted to hilarious precision here it boggles the mind.

He tackles Marion Barry (the crackhead at the million-man-march), OJ, Domestic Abuse, Tossed Salad Man, Women and relationships, Foood, the ghetto, and one of my faborite stand-up speeches ever- Niggers and Black people. Rock brings comedy that is so hard hitting, side splitting, and controversial, it makes Lenny Bruce seem like Jackie Martling. Along with George Carlin and Denis Leary, Chris Rock is one of my favorite comedians ever, and this sepcial proves it.

I wasn't a Chris Rock fan until I saw this show. I'd catch just a few moments of the show while channel surfing, and didn't think much of it. One night, out of boredom I watched a few minutes of his material and was floored. I couldn't believe how funny he was. On further airings I caught the complete show, and discovered his humour also contained cutting social insights which added to the humor.

While he is more popular for his recent concerts like "Never Scared" and "Bigger and Blacker" to his HBO T.V. Show as well as his early work on "Saturday Night Live," this is a must-own for any fan of the brilliant and daring Chris Rock.

This was his first "big" concert for the Home Box Office and it did deserve the Emmeys it got because it is very well written and will cause laughter to ensue every minute!

Rock wisely mixes his vulgar words along with his political views and general beliefs, thus, allowing each act to have a message behind it as well as the punchline getting executed 'no problem.'

While he is incredibly similar to his idol's Richard Pryor, George Carlin and Eddie Murphy, Chris relies less on "shock value" and doesn't repeat himself as often as other comedians do.

Recommended for people 16 and up ( contains strong language and brief sexual humor ).