Bo Burnham: Make Happy
Premise - Bo Burnham's one-hour comedy show performed in front of a live audience recorded and released onto Netflix. This was one recorded performance of several that were given while he was on tour. Bo delves into first world superficial problems, particularly for straight white men, but also incredible universal problems regarding mental health and happiness that effect us all.
Review - I'm not very familiar with stand-up comedy at all! I know who Bo Burnham is because I see his name everywhere, and I had seen a few clips on YouTube. He was also in the movie The Big Sick as one of the comedians. So I thought he was funny, but I never had any motivation to actually seek out one of his longer shows until my cousin forced me into it.
Therefore, because stand-up comedy is not a medium I'm familiar with, it's difficult for me to give an accurate critique because I don't know if I'm critiquing the show, or aspects of all stand-up in general. I was surprised at how discreet the different jokes were. It's supposed to be under the theme of "Make Happy," but that's a bit of a stretch. Each joke, from one to the next, is completed unrelated to the last, and there aren't even appropriate transitions. He just jumps from one thing to another, so that there seldom seemed to be any consistent point he was making. But this is deliberate, as he actually tells the audience to let go of old jokes as he moves along. Each of the jokes were very funny though! It definitely kept my attention throughout. Some were a bit hit or miss, but that's the nature of having such wide variability.
As far as his wider themes, about social privileges on the one hand, and depression on the other, I think part of the reason Bo seems so unhappy is his difficulty reconciling these two sides. On the one hand, he makes countless jokes about how he should have it so easy. Straight, white men have the easiest lives possible. All of his problems are so "first worldly." Yet on the other hand, he can't seem to battle this unhappiness. This rhetoric can actually be harmful. Being a straight, white man doesn't make life easy. It just doesn't make it any harder. Life is always hard. Comparing one's self to others is a recipe for depression. He keeps telling himself, "I have everything in life, why am I unhappy?" he just makes things worse by invalidating himself. But I think Bo is on the right track for intrapersonal insight. (83/100)
Quote - "Now it’s time to talk to the ladies. I’m hoping my Southern charm offsets all these rape-y vibes I’m putting out. ♪ Good girl in a straw hat ♪ ♪ With her arms out in a cornfield ♪ ♪ That is a scarecrow ♪ Thought it was a human woman. Sorry. ♪ A cold night, a cold beer ♪ ♪ A cold jeans Strike that last one ♪ ♪ I’m wanting you I hope you’re feeling me ♪ Subtextually. ♪ We go to bed You doze off ♪ ♪ So I take your country girl Clothes off ♪ ♪ I put my hands on your body ♪ ♪ It feels like hay It’s a fucking scarecrow again ♪ ♪"
What to watch for - Probably the end bit with the Kanye West-esque autotuned song/rant about the world and his problems within it. Good thing I don't like Pringles anyways.
If you liked this show, I recommend The Big Sick!
Written and Performed by Bo Burnham
Distributed on Netflix
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