Going into this comedy special, I wish I’d known it had more in common with a one-man show than a comedy routine. Chris Gethard is a compelling screen presence and he tackles serious topics like clinical depression and suicide without pulling any punches, but the subject matter is so intensely dark that it’s strikingly uncomfortable at times. Gethard seems like the type of comedian that other comics respect but one that leaves the audience a bit perplexed, not unlike Maria Bamford or Reggie Watts, who are more likable than funny. The comedy isn’t so much funny as much as it’s cathartic for Gethard, not to mention for viewers who have suffered from mental illness before, but it’s heavy and often unpleasant, not to mention overlong.
Rating: ★★★ (out of 5)
