They say the third time is the charm. But what about Jimmy Carr, whose third Netflix comedy incorporates more of his dark material meant to offend while making you laugh that comes out on Christmas morning?
Jimmy Carr is known in the UK for his skills as a stand-up comedian who can bake anyone at any time and for his skills as a television presenter, game show director, and panel series.
Americans have known Carr for five years:
Thanks to its connection to Netflix. In 2018, he moderated a panel series for streaming giant The Fix and has spent two hours on stand-up with Big N, Funny Business (2016) and The Best of Ultimate Gold Greatest Hits (2019). The dark matter isn’t necessarily darker than the background and accents of the previous two specials. However, the title at least serves as a warning to anyone who may not be familiar with the previous work.
And even if it’s you, he gives a disclaimer in the first minute: “Before we begin, a quick warning: today’s show contains jokes about bad stuff.”
The trailer draws on some of Carr’s early jokes about the ongoing pandemic, in which he cleverly plays with audience expectations. Example: “Do you think we are overreacting to COVID-19?” After a roar in response with a “YES,” he added, “Yes, many survivors think so.”
Vegetarian. Vagina. Semen sample. HE’s weird. Paedophilia. Alzheimer’s disease. Parkinson’s disease. Schizophrenia. Rape. Cancellation. Holocaust. Carr is not banned from anything.
He even boasted after nearly 47 minutes of envelope-expanding one-line comments and percussion: “I wrote some jokes that could end my career.” Not that he was apprehensive about it. He enjoyed the challenge and said, “This is the good news. I’m swinging down!”
My review of Jimmy Carr’s 2016 Netflix special mentions him in the title as a naughty bastard. Stupid stabbing is enough too. But that’s his point of view.
He lives by building and releasing tensions between himself and his listeners:
And he developed it through his work with crowds, mocking a young man named Charlie throughout the class and trying to offend, especially anyone who seemed offended by a joke.
Not yet. He’s also quick to joke. Does his signature line suggest he’s a pervert or worse, or does he sincerely accept the thorns thrown at him during his regular part-time “hacker amnesty?” In this set, someone asks themselves a question about their new hairline. Carr missed one punch, revealing that he had redistributed his hair to strengthen his forehead. “I went from LEGO hair to Playmobil men’s hair.”
He also mocked his laughter, once describing it as “like a training goose having a panic attack”.
The main difference between comedians like Carr versus Dave Chapel or Ricky Gervais is that you are never surprised by Carr’s sincerity. He is not trying to frame you or confuse you with his intentions. He may enjoy joking about offending topics. “But this is just a joke, and it’s not a terrible thing.” He even told his story towards the end of a charity concert he attended for several years at the Just For Laughs Festival in Montreal, introducing cancer patients and exploring their darkest subject can free them and us from their most tragic emotions.
“I apologize for those who were offended, and I feel sorry for people who can’t laugh in the dark. Because when their life is terrible, they need to move on.
So if he asks, “Can I finish my career in eight words?” You know he will say the eight words in question, but he will also come back to life for a joke.
This may not be a great place to watch Christmas with the family, but it’s ideal when you need to make room for talking and thinking about other things.