Zach Galifianakis: Live at the Purple Onion (2007)

I like movies that are aware of what they are selling... without [any] greater aspirations than to make people laugh and that's it.

Wow! What a bizarre film! Unfortunately the few funny moments there were were quite overshadowed by it's completely weird and random vibe throughout.

To all those who have watched it: I hope you enjoyed it as much as I do.

It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.

King of the one-liner, insult comedy, strange lying-down comedy, meta comedy, musical comedy. This is a SPECIAL special. This film of a Zach G stand-up set captures a comedian at the peak of his powers, completely self-deprecatory and self-deconstructive, if that's a thing, Zach is just plain funny. That's all you need to know. The only moments that didn't work for me bordered on insult-comedy and audience- participation, the sort of moments normally aimed at hecklers. Just not a fan of that sort of thing. They still worked well to showcase how quick Zach is, because he bounces instantly off something the audience-member says into something brilliant. The chief genre here is one-liner. If you don't care for one-liners, steer clear. If you've never seen a Zach G comedy set (like I hadn't) highly recommended.

Zach Gach-fix-kin-ass-key is one of the freshest comedians walking the comedy beat today, he has created a very original style of comedy and the best way I can describe it is to call it "venting". You know that feeling of awkward hilarity when someone does something embarrassing and you cant help but laugh? he tends to blend that, with making fun of himself and his past and I have to say that I cant remember the last time I laughed so hard. His comedic style beats the HELL out of Dane Cook's overcooked garbage. My favorite quote from the film is "When you look like I do it's hard to get a table for one at a Chuck E' Cheese." I cant really say much more other than there should be a movie made about Zach's "brother" Seth Galifiankis.

You have to really be in the mood to get through this performance, because some parts of this 'Onion' sort of, well... stink.Not that Zach Galifianakis isn't a brilliant artist. 'Live at the Purple Onion' highlights Zach's unusual approach to comedy and has flashes of genius. But unlike most stand-up releases, this feels very much like a guy working his material out, a dry run-through, if you will, not the kind of show you'd want to pay full-price to see.The unfinished quality is obviously part of Galifianakis' shtick, but I found myself waiting too long to laugh between jokes and eagerly anticipating Zach's mockumentary-style moments offstage (as his fictitious twin 'Seth') than his moments on stage, where his dramatic stares at the camera were often times funnier than his jokes.

For the most part, Zach Galifianakis: Live at the Purple Onion made me laugh-out-loud. I loved the incredibly odd sense of humor Zach portrays, whether drunk or acting drunk. His one-liner zings of racism, idiocracies or just observations while looking (again) intoxicated or simply uninterested, make the whole act. You have to like this type of humor. You certainly have to have an open mind.I loved his act, which in some ways mimics the comic genius of Seth Macfarlane – neither are afraid of ridiculing their sponsors, Netflix and Fox, respectively. Part of his show was his "twin brother" Seth in a hilarious interview from NPR's Brian Unger (watch the DVD extras – adds to the humor), but mostly it's Zach on stage in his dry, very dry sense of humor as he beats up the audience, who don't seem to mind that he's biting the hand that fed him. (I especially liked the "old man" in front and the Sims 2 guy.) I first saw, or began aware of, Zach in The Hangover, of which he was my favorite amongst the foursome in Vegas. After watching this live comedy stand-up, it's almost as if he sold-out to do that movie. But after further thought, it just proves he's more of a real comic master (case in point, Seth) who has a lot of range and is not one of those whiney, spoiled comedians who are too picky or set in their ways. I would certainly put him close to the top of my favorite comedians of all time.So, if you like real, fearless and uncensored humor (and dirty, as well) give this a shot. Side Note: I HATE censored anything, so this fit just perfect for me.