Ok so...
Rated: 6 stars Expected: 10 stars
I've been a Matt Rife fan since he first busted on the scene. As a comic, he felt fresh, current, and connected to current trends and influences. I'm sure it's because of his connection with TikTok, but he has tipped me off my rocker for a long time. Unfortunately, his newest Netflix special, Natural Selection, just didn't do it for me. There were certainly some zingers and few really good bits, but as a full product, it missed the mark.
As his show opens and he steps on stage, there is certainly an excitement for what the next 65 minutes or so could hold. Matt does his intros, and voila...he's off and running. He even managed to work a quick bit on domestic violence into the first 2 minutes, which seems to have set a firestorm off in the media. This off-color bit is part of the reason I like Rife- he is not afraid to walk the fine line, or even cross it. Personally, I don't think anything is off limits in comedy: body shaming, abortion, holocaust, disabled, culture & ethnicities...you name it, and I'm ok with it. But for whatever reason, his rather tame insinuation has gotten the panties bunched for a chunk of the interweb media and social scenes. Not bad for the introductory two minutes of an act. Sadly, this was about the last of the fun for the duration of the show, but for a few bits.
So what made this act different than other Matt Rife appearances? In my opinion, it felt much more forced. I can't put my finger on it, but it wasn't as loose as usual. His bits took longer to reach their pinnacle, and the payoff seemed "less funny." In other words, the bits were longer and not as funny. What makes Matt Rife funny is his ability to quickly connect us to what he's talking about- which is usually something current- and get out. No looooong buildup and no holds barred.
I dunno...maybe it's just me, but he just wasn't as funny as he normally is.
Rated: 6 stars Expected: 10 stars
I've been a Matt Rife fan since he first busted on the scene. As a comic, he felt fresh, current, and connected to current trends and influences. I'm sure it's because of his connection with TikTok, but he has tipped me off my rocker for a long time. Unfortunately, his newest Netflix special, Natural Selection, just didn't do it for me. There were certainly some zingers and few really good bits, but as a full product, it missed the mark.
As his show opens and he steps on stage, there is certainly an excitement for what the next 65 minutes or so could hold. Matt does his intros, and voila...he's off and running. He even managed to work a quick bit on domestic violence into the first 2 minutes, which seems to have set a firestorm off in the media. This off-color bit is part of the reason I like Rife- he is not afraid to walk the fine line, or even cross it. Personally, I don't think anything is off limits in comedy: body shaming, abortion, holocaust, disabled, culture & ethnicities...you name it, and I'm ok with it. But for whatever reason, his rather tame insinuation has gotten the panties bunched for a chunk of the interweb media and social scenes. Not bad for the introductory two minutes of an act. Sadly, this was about the last of the fun for the duration of the show, but for a few bits.
So what made this act different than other Matt Rife appearances? In my opinion, it felt much more forced. I can't put my finger on it, but it wasn't as loose as usual. His bits took longer to reach their pinnacle, and the payoff seemed "less funny." In other words, the bits were longer and not as funny. What makes Matt Rife funny is his ability to quickly connect us to what he's talking about- which is usually something current- and get out. No looooong buildup and no holds barred.
I dunno...maybe it's just me, but he just wasn't as funny as he normally is.