It has been another busy year for the award winning writer, director and comedian Ricky Gervais who has delivered a diverse range of entertainment including the accomplished Cemetery Junction, the hilarious animated Ricky Gervais Show and most recently the hugely entertaining An Idiot Abroad. All consistently funny and yet he still manages to find time to deliver his fourth UK stand-up show called Science.
It is be easy to be cynical on how Gervais has managed to find the time to deliver a 70-minute stand-up show to sold out crowds across the UK. But once again he has delivered a hilarious routine with some memorable moments and now it can be revisited on DVD filled with hilarious extra features.
Science?
Anyone who has caught Gervais’ previous stand-up shows Animals, Politics and Fame will know that the titles bear little resemblance to the show’s content. As is the case with Science bar a few exceptions on deconstructing Noah’s Arkand a stab at the religious views on homophobia.
After a hilariously left-field video introduced by American stand-up Louis CK, Gervais bursts on to the Hammersmith Apollo stage like an excited child. Within moments he challenges Amanda Holden’s ability to judge Britain’s Got Talent before launching into his Ken Dodd story.
The opening ten minutes will sum up whether you will be offended or laugh in hysterics as Gervais re-enacts an obsessive fan at one of Ken Dodd’s gigs. Gervais never refrains from speaking his mind, but his charm and expressions always stop the delivery from being downright offensive.
Noah's Ark
Controversy does follow Gervais around with his stand-ups and audio books, particularly his view on overweight people and his solution to help them lose weight. When it comes to his deconstruction of the children’s book Noah’s Ark it is here that Gervais’ atheist view towards a ship’s capacity to hold thousands of species that the sarcasm comes thick and fast.
There are a few quibbles, where Gervais challenges the church opposing gay marriage in a tight debate, but towards the end the routine feels baggy and did not need the description of sexual activities to finish with. The same can be said in regards to the Christmas present he received which feels a little too similar to his Podcast banter with Stephen Merchant and Karl Pilkington about adopting a goat.
Comedic Style
Gervais will often divert from his routines before coming back to complete the delivery. Some fans may have found this irritating; others will simply put it down to his comedic style. But when he comes back to his original point the result is always rewarding. It demonstrates as a performer he is completely natural and can interact with the audience very comfortably no matter how big the crowd.
DVD Extras
Science also includes bonus features including a second Meet Karl Pilkington interview. The main highlight of the bonus features is the When Karl met Warwick documentary. If Sky 1 were looking for further ideas with Karl Pilkington they should send him around the word with Warwick Davis. It is consistently funny without being uncomfortable.
Gervais' latest live DVD is still fresh and hilarious on repeat viewing. At an entertaining 70 minutes and filled with hilarious bonus features too, this it sits comfortably with Gervais’ previous live shows.
Adam Rivett - Adam works full time for a charity Bank as a qualified PRINCE2 accredited Project Manager where he has lead and implemented a number of ...
Join the Conversation