Zach Galifianakis: Live at The Purple Onion

Posted by Brian C. Gibson (brian@filmschoolrejects.com) on April 11, 2007 Share

I once heard a comedian say that there are only two types of comedians, ones who are funny and ones who are good looking. While some of you might say that Dane Cook is both funny and good looking, I would reply that you have just proven my point. Not to say comic Zach Galifianakis is not good looking, but after the price of admission you will find a true comic talent filled with originality and a style that could only be his own.

Zach Galifianakis: Live at The Purple Onion is stand-up comedy for anyone who claims to  call themselves open-minded or quirky. Galifianakis resembles that eccentric friend who always seems to be in character and ready to say weird things that always sound funny after a few drinks, except the difference between Galifianakis and your buddy is that Galifianakis is funny and famous, not to mention the fact that, while he may have started out at a burger joint, he is not still climbing his way through lower management. The soft piano playing, intimate crowd and low lights may deceive you into thinking that he has a method to his madness. His various stand-up routines show that he is constantly trying to reshape and improve his act with any nearby resources. His comedy is bloody brilliant and filled with an originality than only a man with a beard, visor, big sunglasses and clothes that fit too tightly can provide.

The pace of the DVD is well executed and garnished with clips of a special interview conducted by NPR’s Brian Unger. Unger had an opportunity to sit with Seth Galifianakis, Zach’s mustached “brother”, in a candid and often intimate look at the real Zach Galifianakis. The DVD is a must for fans of fresh comedy or in need of a good laugh. I am glad that this has become a part of my collection so I can get away from Jim Gaffigan for a while.

Read more articles by Brian C. Gibson