25 reviews
Worth watching if you are an admirer of any of the individual cast members, a fan of Python, an elderly Brit who used to listen to the Goon Show on the wireless, or a well-read, intelligent, open-minded person who isn't offended by a deliberate lack of political correctness.
It's fun - and gets more so as it progresses. It's NOT high art.
The comedy, as written, is infantile, crass and rather obvious. However, it is in the performance and delivery that it actually becomes funny. And here it is performed by a formidable group of extremely talented and versatile comedians, plus Russell Brand.
The musical numbers are average Eric Idle fare; nothing particularly remarkable, but they seem to hit the spot with the live audience in LA.
The real genius of the piece is the subtle, more cerebral humour that lurks just beneath the surface of Idle's script, with well-aimed socio-political barbs that hit their marks perfectly while masquerading as raspberry-blowing schoolboy humour. There's more to this than what's on the surface, so if at first it seems a little blah stick with it. I did, and it turned out I liked it after all.
And it's a rare treat to see several of the cast members sharing the same stage. Particular credit must go to the delectable Eddie Izzard, and the exquisitely uber-talented Tracey Ullman; two performers who I disliked in the early days of their careers, but have in recent years won me over big-time. Both give standout performances in this show, and it's probably worth watching just for them.
It's fun - and gets more so as it progresses. It's NOT high art.
The comedy, as written, is infantile, crass and rather obvious. However, it is in the performance and delivery that it actually becomes funny. And here it is performed by a formidable group of extremely talented and versatile comedians, plus Russell Brand.
The musical numbers are average Eric Idle fare; nothing particularly remarkable, but they seem to hit the spot with the live audience in LA.
The real genius of the piece is the subtle, more cerebral humour that lurks just beneath the surface of Idle's script, with well-aimed socio-political barbs that hit their marks perfectly while masquerading as raspberry-blowing schoolboy humour. There's more to this than what's on the surface, so if at first it seems a little blah stick with it. I did, and it turned out I liked it after all.
And it's a rare treat to see several of the cast members sharing the same stage. Particular credit must go to the delectable Eddie Izzard, and the exquisitely uber-talented Tracey Ullman; two performers who I disliked in the early days of their careers, but have in recent years won me over big-time. Both give standout performances in this show, and it's probably worth watching just for them.
- kitellis-98121
- Jul 10, 2018
- Permalink
I only rated this a 6 as it's a bit hit and miss as a story, but if you are a fan of Brit comedy and comic actors, then this is probably worth your time.
full of wacky double-entendres along with nods to Monty Python and the Rocky Horror Picture Show, it's fun to watch all of these talented people have fun with each other.
I have NO idea how they kept from laughing through the whole thing. As much as I love Eddie Izzard, he really just can't do accents and even mocks himself on that account.
Jane Leeves is very funny, I had forgotten just how good she was on Frasier as Daphne.
Poor Billy Connolly has the hardest time of all in keeping a straight face!!!
Overall, worth a good giggle :)
full of wacky double-entendres along with nods to Monty Python and the Rocky Horror Picture Show, it's fun to watch all of these talented people have fun with each other.
I have NO idea how they kept from laughing through the whole thing. As much as I love Eddie Izzard, he really just can't do accents and even mocks himself on that account.
Jane Leeves is very funny, I had forgotten just how good she was on Frasier as Daphne.
Poor Billy Connolly has the hardest time of all in keeping a straight face!!!
Overall, worth a good giggle :)
- fullmoon7461-908-439866
- Sep 6, 2013
- Permalink
- TheLittleSongbird
- Jan 10, 2014
- Permalink
Couple points of note. First that cast: Russell Brand, Billy Connolly,Tim Curry, Eric Idle, Eddie Izzard, Jim Piddock, Tracey Ullman. We're talking the royalty of British comedic actors. And if you know Python, specifically Eric Idle, you just know there's going to be some crazy,zany, complex lines to read. I think Billy Connolly had the worst of it, especially with that Daffy Duck inspector's voice. The fact that he cracked up on several occasions testifies to the challenge of some of the passages and the plain-old fact that Idle just wrote some very funny stuff. The readings were all fantastic. I think Connolly and Ullman were the standouts, but Curry and Izzard had their moments too. It's zany, crazy funny material. And the fact that Idle wrote it all by himself is the most impressive thing. I'm a writer myself, so I know what it takes to put down ninety minutes of solid material that flows evenly. I just can't say enough. Sure worth your time, but pay attention, the material flies fast and furious. You don't want to miss a gem or a nugget.
- professorjeffreypbrown
- May 18, 2016
- Permalink
AWESOME. great cast. HA-larious script. very clever twisting of phrases and references to the actors' past roles. Tim Curry, Tracy Ulman, Russell Brand, Billy Connolly. Jane Leeves was the caretaker on Frasier. The whole shebang seems to be written and created by Eric Idle, so it has his zany sense of humor, all done in old time radio hour fashion. A couple of clever, naughty, filthy songs that are only dirty if you think about the words too long. One extra-interesting connection... according to Jim Piddick's webpage, his grandfather had done vaudeville with the Chaplin brothers waaaaay back when. The storyline is all quite silly, but it does get us from beginning to end. Ass reading. too funny. umbrella stealing. pianos. Really fun. Showing on netflix. not for the children... a fair amount of cussing and adult discussion.
Eric Idle's staged musical comedy very broadly looking at the decline of the British Empire as told by a Piano (Idle).
If you like Python or silly, vulgar British comedy then this is for you. Absolute nonsense, but with this cast and some fun songs, it can't fail. From a better time.
If you like Python or silly, vulgar British comedy then this is for you. Absolute nonsense, but with this cast and some fun songs, it can't fail. From a better time.
I really was confused. I thought this was more current. I was thinking that Tim Curry has really recovered from his stroke. This is because the American political jokes and the Donald Trump reference made me think it was filmed within the last two years. So it was a shock to see the date of filming was 2012. Very shocked. Anyway. It was incredible. A whose who of famous UK comedic talent.
- Lunaroseice
- Aug 21, 2019
- Permalink
I am huge fan of Python and think Eric Idle is a great talent. That is why this sorry mess of school boy jokes is such a disappointment. Somehow you could just about accept Sid James and that crew offering up a string of innuendos and double entendres but Eric Idle! What a sad waste of a talented cast and just goes to show if you have the name and the pals you can get the money to produce any old tosh.
- mikegibb-60418
- Dec 26, 2019
- Permalink
If you are a fan of Eric Idle, British humor, fast paced dialogue , double entendre, brilliant casting, sheer nonsense and want to laugh into tears for 80 minutes, Do Not Miss this!
- robertlowy-1
- Nov 4, 2018
- Permalink
I wanted something light I could do the ironing to, and this caught my eye. With Russell Brand , Billy Connolly, Tim Curry, Eric Idle, Eddie Izzard, Jim Piddock and Tracey Ullman, it's a radio play filmed in front of an audience. You'll laugh until you cry, promised the blurb.
They lied.
What a monumental waste of talent. When I tell you that "Have you seen Dick?" "Not since my coming out ball." is the funniest, most sophisticated joke in the whole car-crash of a show, you'll get an idea of how unutterably awful it is. They must have got the audience drunk as skunks beforehand to get a laugh out of them
I've wasted my time watching it so you don't have to.
They lied.
What a monumental waste of talent. When I tell you that "Have you seen Dick?" "Not since my coming out ball." is the funniest, most sophisticated joke in the whole car-crash of a show, you'll get an idea of how unutterably awful it is. They must have got the audience drunk as skunks beforehand to get a laugh out of them
I've wasted my time watching it so you don't have to.
- snodlander
- Aug 16, 2020
- Permalink
Having read the previous reviews, I would say that 'What About Dick?' is like Marmite. You either like it or loathe it.
I must say that I stand on the side of like it, in fact, I love it. I've watched it 5 times now and every time I watch it, I see and hear something I missed before.
The cast are brilliant and the script is fantastic.
I must say that I stand on the side of like it, in fact, I love it. I've watched it 5 times now and every time I watch it, I see and hear something I missed before.
The cast are brilliant and the script is fantastic.
- iboardman-67397
- Aug 6, 2021
- Permalink
What a pleasant surprise. Working from home during Covid19, coffee break time.. stumbled across this hilarious treat. Loved it! Wonderful cast.
- kathrinchow
- May 4, 2021
- Permalink
I was recommended to watch this and I am so glad I did. I loved it so much I watched it twice. Don't expect a fantastic storyline. It is light hearted comedy. Loved it.
- alisonmallon
- Jul 24, 2021
- Permalink
Real stage comedy gold- loved every minute!!!! I would recommend this to anyone who loves stage productions, comedies esp Eric Idle, Tim Curry or Eddie Izzard.
No gem, this, but rather a staggeringly unfunny error. The conceit of it being a radio play allows the performers to read from scripts, which in many cases it seems that they are seeing for the first time. Some of the content reminds of comedy from 40-50 years ago, like "Carry-On" films or sitcoms like "It Ain't Half Hot, Mum", except that in those comedies some of the jokes worked. In "Dick", dud after dud clunks to floor. The same innuendo in the show's title must be done 100 times, bludgeoning the audience with Dick. The collective talent on stage is amazing, but nothing they do brings it to life; possibly Tim Curry pulls the hardest, but even he can't make it tumescent. If you can make to the end of this flaccid nonsense then I salute you.
- martyn-701-900086
- Nov 13, 2020
- Permalink
This might have been watchable but sadly Eric Idle felt the need to cast Russell Brand. If his attempts at acting weren't enough, wondering how, whoever was sharing the mic with him, managed to not gag as his disgustingly greasy hair wafted close to their faces, was very distracting.
- lucyfranceshurst
- Mar 6, 2020
- Permalink
One of the funniest things I've ever seen.
It says my review is too short so I'm continuing to type, but really, it's one of the funniest things I've ever seen.
- donmontgomery-alsbridge
- Oct 24, 2020
- Permalink
Very well done great cast and some great one liners
Totally enjoyed. Billy connelly at his best Eric idol a star I laughed all the wY proper old school.........................
- tonyshanahan
- Jan 22, 2022
- Permalink
I saw this play in LA and didn't realize that it was filmed - but so glad it was! Watching it brought back wonderful memories and out loud laughs!! But even better as there are close-ups!
If you like Monty Python type comedy you will love this incredibly funny movie of an old time radio broadcast.
- chris-bundy
- Aug 8, 2020
- Permalink
Looking at the star cast I was pulled to this. How they convinced these most respected talents to read this dumb stript is beyond me. This is one of those really crass and shallow scripts masquerading as sophisticated theatre with double entrendes. I have one word for it or three- WTF. Bored me out of my mind, stunned me with its mediocrity and boorish humour. I laughed at these jokes back when I was in high school.
- snehakakroo
- Mar 27, 2021
- Permalink
This was a joy to watch but was kinda hard seeing tim curry shortly before his stroke. He was great in this. Everybody was.
A throwback to python and the cast are for the most part very good.
Conolly is badly underused.
Ullman is an ego to herself.
- petemcphee2
- Aug 20, 2020
- Permalink
A complete mis-step from Eric Idle. 'Dated' doesn't cover it - even in 2012 when it was made it was 60 years behind the times. The jokes are leaden and the amazing talent involved completely underused by a shockingly bad script which insults its audience. What was Idle thinking? Don't waste your time on this.