Carrot Top Rocks Las
Vegas
Picture:
C+ Sound: C+ Extras: C Concert: B-
Many
people still ignore the comedian known as Carrot Top, but the character
comedian is actually one of the only such performers carrying on a great
tradition of such comedy that only Julie Tenuta and Gallagher have the guts to
do. The comedy comes with a certain
necessary sense of needed suspension of disbelief, as these performers try to
be at least a bit larger than life.
Despite a series of talkshow stops and phone service commercials, he
continues to do is act unmodified and has a base of fans as a result.
Carrot Top Rocks Las Vegas is a too-short 48-minutes-long
program somehow acquired an R-rating, but this was mostly a PG-13 experience as
far as I was concerned. It was only
because off excessive swearing and some sex and drug references the R is here,
but it is not like we do not see these in PG-13 films ever. If you have never seen him in concert, know
that he loves his props and is better than his commercial image would have you
believe. With this said, he is still
eccentric and an acquired comic taste.
The
stand-up is good, if one likes this type of humor, but the attempt to add
outside dream sequences, Top running around in semi-disguise, and a pointless cameo
by Penn & Teller hurt and confuse an already abbreviated concert film that
is barely long enough to qualify as one.
The comedy that is there is consistent, but for someone with such a long
career, it could have stood on its own and went on longer.
The full
frame 1.33 X 1 picture was shot on film.
This transfer is passable, but will not have the picture quality of the
DVD for the comedian’s feature film Chairman
of the Board, which at least fans have acquired so far. The PCM CD 2.0 Stereo is simple, but easier
to hear than most Dolby equivalents, creating the feeling of Top being more
present. The only extra is a nearly
half-hour making of documentary and “detailed” liner notes.
That
helps save this DVD, making it a more well-rounded proposition. We only see so much of Vegas, but in this
case, the lass the better because this is supposed to be about the comedy. There is enough of it, but fans should just
be aware of some detours. Otherwise, no
problem.
- Nicholas Sheffo
