Jim Gaffigan: Beyond the Pale

JIM GAFFIGAN: BEYOND THE PALE is a concert film featuring, um, Jim Gaffigan, who was in SUPER TROOPERS but whom I did not recognize.

Gaffigan does standard standup stuff, and much of it is laugh-out-loud funny, but the unique thing about his act is his habit of breaking into a high-pitched whisper that apes the inner monologue of a notional audience member. As much fun as the stories and jokes are, it's Gaffigan's clear understanding of the possbile reactions to his humor that make this particular concert film worth watching. He understands that some of his bits will offend, some will creep people out, and some will make his audience draw connections between different parts of the act and parse out his themes and obsessions. It's interesting stuff, and it's the kind of stuff that you'll remember after you've forgotten the individual jokes.

JIM GAFFIGAN: BEYOND THE PALE works. If you like standup films, you'll like this one.