MacDonald comedy a Ridiculous waste
The jokes get old fast on Norm MacDonald's comedy album.
Published Sept. 8, 2006
Comedy Central should have opted for the title, "Norm MacDonald: Featuring four and a half minutes of Will Ferrell screaming like Ricky Bobby in 'Talladega Nights.'"
My guess is the change might sell more copies than this album has jokes.
Ridiculous, the latest comedy album from Norm MacDonald, is composed of an ensemble group of "Saturday Night Live" has-beens.
The whole album features Macdonald in a desperate attempt to recreate the success Adam Sandler established in the '90s with his multitude of sketch comedy albums.
The unnatural dialogues fused with MacDonald's dry and tediously repetitious humor make this album attempt a better reason to turn to E! and watch reruns of the comedian on Weekend Update.
The album begins with a promising sketch about the naming of the Fantastic Four.
Unfortunately, after the first minute, it subsides into monotony after MacDonald repeats the joke 12 times.
In case you missed the painfully obvious joke, you fortunately have the next four minutes and 44 seconds to decipher it. Happy hunting.
If "average guy caught in funny circumstance" jokes are more up your alley, on a track simply named "Stan and Lois," there is a slightly amusing sketch about everyman Stan Hooper trying to convince Lois Lane that he is Superman in that ever-so-bland Norm MacDonald style.
Still not your oyster? Maybe "Hidden Track," will whet the appetite for classic Norm stand-up comedy recorded from a previous show.
The album tries to bolster its appeal with the help of fellow comedians Will Ferrell, Artie Lange, Jon Lovitz, Tim Meadows and Molly Shannon, yet it forces seemingly awkward moments that draw away from comedy and into what's comparable to Dennis Miller trying to sound sports-savvy.
The only upside to this album is three sketches, one of which entitled "World's First Two Gay Guys" with MacDonald and Ferrell. In the sketch, Ferrell screams in a Harry Carey accent following a sexual encounter involving his ass. (I'll let your creative academic minds paint the picture.)
It is the only part of the record that allows true spontaneity and comic appeal while listening to Ferrell list various phrases that might come to mind during one such encounter.
Let's face it: Ferrell, his ass and Harry Carey are all clear indications of comedic genius. How can it go wrong?
MacDonald's nine-year project is too ambitious in trying to create a sketch comedly album that follows in Sandler's footsteps.
Really, you only need the first 20 seconds of each track to get the point.
You have to give MacDonald credit for sticking to his style of comedy.
Unfortunately for the rest of us, his style of comedy is not funny, and neither is Ridiculous.
Artist: Norm MacDonald
Album: Ridiculous
Genre: Comedy
Record Label: Comedy Central Records
Release Date: Sept. 12
Most Listenworthy Track: 'World's First Two Gay Guys'
Reviewer's Rating: 1.5 out of 5 Ms