John Leguizamo: Freak - Comments & Tips

90s standup is often hard to go back to because of who is seen as the easy, widely accepted targets of the time. This one is better than dime others, but still has its moments of that. I can’t deny Leguizamo’s energy and charm, but the bigger problem is the special was rarely funny to me. It shone most in the earnest moments of vulnerability, in his complex feelings with his father, in trying to take pride as an actor and performer and grow beyond stereotypes. Lee is also once again a great director of these- other more mundane directors would cut out ‘mistakes’ but he keeps in falling off the stage or almost running into a cameraman or some awkwardness with backing crowdgoers John riffs on to make this special distinct and a capture of a moment rather than a ‘typical’ or ‘flawless’ performance of this show. Some great and intimate camera angles too. If you accept the poorly aged bits of the time and focus more on his life than on getting a laugh, there’s some value here.

A soaring tour de force of theatrical comedy. It''s a riot turned heartfelt in the end, and John Leguizamo is a creative revelation.