Louis C.K.'s latest comedy concert film is Hilarious, the first ever
stand-up documentary to be accepted at Sundance. The film is
economically produced--C.K. does his own direction and editing--and
spends much of its time in a mid shot of C.K.'s face; content is
everything here.Whatever its personal implications, C.K.'s recent divorce is a great
development for his comedy: it allows him to take his trademark
pessimism on dates, to the gym, and even to the club. He pares
incredulous contempt for beautiful people with his own healthy
self-loathing--but because this is Louis C.K, he absolutely never
pities himself. In fact, many of his best barbs are aimed at the
entitled and ungrateful among us: among other great jabs, this film
contains his now-famous "chair in the sky" airplane routine.Much of his best and most human material is derived from life as a
father; he invokes his daughters with a disarming love and respect,
while realistically explicating the more disgusting elements of
parenthood. This too benefits from his recent divorce, as it serves to
alienate him even further from contemporary dating.There is also a fair number of shock laughs, of course--at one point
C.K tellingly acknowledges that upsetting people makes him laugh. And
that in itself is the great appeal of Louis C.K.'s comedy, that we can
bond over the idea that nothing good will ever happen to anyone and
then find humor in it. Hilarious is all about finding laughs in
pessimism, and it demonstrates what a hilarious performer C.K. is. -TK
9/22/10