Fame has definitely gone to Gervais' head (Ricky Gervais Live 3 - Fame (DVD))

Member Name: bruffyboy

Product:	Ricky Gervais Live 3 - Fame (DVD)
Date:	15/01/09 (63 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Some very funny moments

Disadvantages: Attacks sensitive issues

Ricky Gervais, comic genius behind 'The Office' and 'Extras' returns for his third stand up tour DVD, titled 'fame'.

There are two sides to Ricky Gervais - one which I love and one which I hate, and both appear in this DVD. The Gervais I love uses facial gesture, movement and high pitched voices to poke fun at himself, and does so in such a humble and gentle way that it's very non threatening and amiable. You can't help but like the guy when he's making fun of himself, or any topic, in this way. There are some jokes about Dawn French (in which he also implicates himself) that are typical of this style of good fun humour.

The Gervais I hate is the one that gets arrogant and cocky about a delicate subject, and writes it off in one sentence. Sadly, this DVD contains a lot of that - in the first half hour alone, Gervais can be accused of poor taste jokes aimed at rape victims, Christians, the overweight, child cancer sufferers, and other races. What is interesting, is that he mostly does this in the non-threatening manner I like, but if you stop and think about what he's actually saying, it's completely inappropriate.

I feel like Gervais has got too big for his boots - he truly seems to believe his skills as a comic give him the justification to shove his beliefs down everyone's throats; in particular, he picks up his vehement attack on Christianity that he began in the Animals live tour, and just tears it apart (it's so see-through that he has a massive chip on his shoulder about religion). Whilst mockery forms the basis of much comedy, I personally found the religious section offensive, which made me think the same experience must have been had by rape victims, the overweight, child cancer sufferers etc etc. Now I love comedy, but if your joke is at the expense of a certain group of people, it is sure to isolate audiences.

In conclusion, there are touches of the self-deprecating Gervais that is so like-able, but his arrogance soon takes over and ruins this show.

Summary: prepare to be offended if you fall into any of his mockery categories