Coventry Review of Denis Leary: No Cure for Cancer

Denis Leary: No Cure for Cancer (1993 TV Special)

Outstanding comedy for people with no morals

[9/10 · 18 January 2005]

Denis Leary, the greatest stand-up comedian in the history of stand-up comedy (of course, in the humble opinion of yours truly) delivers his best work with this No Cure For Cancer show. This is an unscrupulous spitfire of criticism on topics that no other normal person dares to process. The opening announcement summarizes the wholesome quite well actually: "Ladies and gentleman, due to illness, the part of Denis Leary will be played by…Denis Leary!". With the biggest disdain in his voice and body language, Leary talks (yells, actually) about out-of-the-question topics such as drug-abuse, rehabilitation programs and even cancer. Short examples include him claiming drug abuse is something you simply have to experience, or that all rock stars belong dead or even that cancer is something you should be proud of! I especially enjoyed his on-going rant on dreadful anti-smoking campaigns! He's standing there, lighting one cigarette after another, and shouting he is never going to quit! Go Denis!! The style of comedy Leary brings isn't exactly the "rollin' over the floor laughing your … off" humor but merely the kind of gags you secretly giggling with, not really knowing whether you're supposed to find it funny or not. He also goes over the top quite a few times, but you forgive him simply because he's so fanatic in what he does. For example: he nearly goes berserk when venting his spleen on the French people and, even though his lines aren't very admirable, it's still terrific amusement due to his on-stage behavior. I think every person on this planet would be offended by at least one chapter in this show. So you better leave all your morals and principles at the door before you start watching it. But, if you got any sense of sarcasm in you, this show is a must!