Brian Regan: Standing Up – DVD Review

DVD Reviews, Reviews

Available at Amazon.com

Appearing

Brian Regan

DVD Release Date: August 14, 2007
Rating: Not Rated
Running Time: 42 Minutes

The Show

For as long as I can remember, Brian Regan has been a true comedian that knows how to deliver a great show. And to make things even more appealing, he does it in a totally clean fashion. He doesn’t need props or dirty humor or curse words to get his point across and get the audience doing what they came to do, and that’s laugh. I remember seeing Regan back in my early teens and cracking up back then at his classic materiel. But one of the great things he does is that he comes up with new stuff.

Standing Up is an excellent example of a great comedian. Regan has been doing stand-up for a very long time and his comedy is something that usually graces my television or radio in the car. Yet here was a new special and not one single joke seemed familiar to me. Everything was fresh, new, and absolutely hilarious. Even the simplest one-liner bits about a joke he got from his young son will make you crack up.

Perhaps the best part about Regan’s routine is that it actually seems as if he cares about what he is doing. His stage presence just shows that he is calm, cool, collected, and has been doing this forever. Regan is comfortable in what he does and knows that it’s his job. But he also wants to make sure the audience is enjoying themselves. He doesn’t go out there, run though his sets, and then just go off stage knowing his job was done. Making those people laugh is his goal and he sets out to accomplish it.

Needless to say that you also can’t help but notice his act is entirely clean. In the full duration, the only word coming close to swearing is “hell.” And if memory serves, he only even says that twice. Regan doesn’t need to delve deep into the bowels of humanity in order to find jokes. His simple and clean humor, along with some fantastic facial expressions, makes a hilarious act that the entire family can enjoy.

The Video

The show is presented in Wide Screen format and looks perfectly fine. Not much to ask for here as all we see is Regan on stage with a simple spotlight on him as the crowd is in the dark. But it is a nice transfer to DVD and all comes through perfectly.

The Audio

The show is heard in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound and sounds just as well as it looks. With only dialogue and crowd laughter doesn’t make for much need for surround sound, but it still sounds fine. As with most Comedy Central DVDs though, it isn’t really surround sound when the same volume and all the sound comes out of every speaker.

Special Features

Brian Regan: Standing Up (Encore) – Regan comes out after the show and gives close to another six minutes of material, but does a lot of his old stuff. The audience actually just starts yelling out old bits he used to do and he goes right into them. Fans of Regan will recognize “You Too,” “Take Luck,” and “Gentle Ben.”

Comedy Central Presents: Brian Regan (Half-Hour Special) – This was Regan’s Comedy Central special from 2000 and as with most of his comedy; it has withstood the tests of time. A lot of older material is recognizable here, but as I said it is almost eight years old. So fans will notice a lot of the jokes, but still find it incredibly enjoyable. While new fans will get an even bigger thrill by getting a full thirty minutes of new material not heard on the rest of the DVD.

The Inside Pulse

Brian Regan is a comedian that anyone who has never heard him, should listen to; and anyone that has, should listen to again. His comedy is priceless, clean, unique, and best of all it is hilarious. Standing Up is a true example of the comedic genius that Regan is by keeping his act consistent but always fresh for years and years. The name of the DVD is also a nice tribute to longtime fans who remember the comedian for his well-known doubled-over posture seen throughout his career. The special features are skimpy, but still good for another half hour of entertainment. For fans and newcomers, this should be one picked up right away. Don’t bother with a rental, because you’ll want to see it more then once, trust me. So rush out, grab yourself a copy, and “take luck take care of the luck!”

The DVD Lounge’s Ratings for Brian Regan: Standing Up
CATEGORY
RATING
(OUT OF 10)
THE SHOW

8
THE VIDEO

8
THE AUDIO

7
THE EXTRAS

6
REPLAY VALUE

8
OVERALL
7.5
(NOT AN AVERAGE)