Since the early 1980s the brash, self-deprecating comedic stylings of Joan Rivers have endured, entertaining audiences of all ages with her quick wit and desirable, 'nothing's sacred' approach to comedy. In stand-up show Don't Start With Me, Rivers delivers a balanced, but not quite uproarious, selection of gags, ranging from praise for the gays to condemnation of the handicapped and everything in between.
No sector of society- rich or poor, black or white, famous or a nobody- is safe from Rivers' barbs. Highlights include her criticism of Goldie Hawn's vanity, Anne Frank's writing skills and the time she and Sean Penn rowed a boat through New Orleans. The entire show is tinged with a touch of 'well, what did you expect?', which helps create a feeling of immersion. Unfortunately, Rivers' schtick does occasionally teeter on the edge of intrigue. The result is not offensive, per se, but actually boring, which is arguably a lot worse.
Fans of Rivers' topical, slightly female-oriented sense of humour will draw much pleasure from only a 50-minute show, while those less affiliated with the comedienne may find some quirks in her performance a little repetitive and, barring that, simply too lacking in context to hit the mark.
*There's nothing I love more than a bit of feedback, good or bad. So drop me a line on jnatsis@iprimus.com.au and let me know what you thought of my review. If you're looking for a writer for your movie website or other publication, I'd also love to hear from you.*
No sector of society- rich or poor, black or white, famous or a nobody- is safe from Rivers' barbs. Highlights include her criticism of Goldie Hawn's vanity, Anne Frank's writing skills and the time she and Sean Penn rowed a boat through New Orleans. The entire show is tinged with a touch of 'well, what did you expect?', which helps create a feeling of immersion. Unfortunately, Rivers' schtick does occasionally teeter on the edge of intrigue. The result is not offensive, per se, but actually boring, which is arguably a lot worse.
Fans of Rivers' topical, slightly female-oriented sense of humour will draw much pleasure from only a 50-minute show, while those less affiliated with the comedienne may find some quirks in her performance a little repetitive and, barring that, simply too lacking in context to hit the mark.
*There's nothing I love more than a bit of feedback, good or bad. So drop me a line on jnatsis@iprimus.com.au and let me know what you thought of my review. If you're looking for a writer for your movie website or other publication, I'd also love to hear from you.*