The Star Online: Entertainment: Movies

Chris Tucker’s stand-up is both pleasing and personal

Posted: 25 Jun 2013 09:11 PM PDT

Most famous people write books about their lives but not comedian Chris Tucker. He could choose to put some soft music on, sit in front of a fireplace, behind a computer and sip claret, and wait for inspiration to strike but nooooo ...

He'd rather go around the world jumping up and down like a maniac, putting on multiple facial expressions, do Michael Jackson dance moves and deliver rapid-fire comedy, just like the motor-mouthed detective he played in the Rush Hour films.

The 41-year-old goldfish-eyed comedian sped eagerly through his life like it was rush hour, in front of a sold-out, 2,000-odd crowd at the KL Convention Centre, on Monday.

It was a laugh-a-minute marathon. Tucker was a high-energy, walking-talking-singing-dancing autobiography at The Return Show (Tucker first made his name in the 90s doing stand-up before getting into movies like The Fifth Element and Money Talks).

He spoke about growing up under a no-nonsense, non-doting mother who "wouldn't even bother to look for me when I got lost in the mall" to becoming so rich, his entire family quit their jobs (to whom he quipped, "Hey! You're not rich, I am!"), to owing US$12mil (RM36mil) in taxes.

But it was Tucker's reversal of fortune that was the main topic at his stand-up gig. Despite earning US$45mil (RM135mil) for Rush Hour 2 and 3 alone, Tucker still managed to get into debt with the IRS in 2011. He reportedly sold his LA mansion to start getting back to black.

He poked fun at himself. He said he was extravagant enough to buy two houses next to each other.

"I was my own neighbour," he said, before vowing never to take tax advice from actor Wesley Snipes again. (Snipes spent three years in the slammer for failing to file tax returns.)

Tucker's self-deprecating humour was one of the many highlights of the show.

"If you go and see Silver Linings Playbook, don't blink because you could miss me," he said on his cameo role in last year's Oscar nominated movie, which is his sole movie appearance in the past five years.

He added in typical African-American fashion: "That was one all-white movie," he said.

He also imitated his A-list friends during the show. He was spot on with his Bill Clinton and Michael Jackson impersonations. He spoke of his visits to the late singer's home in the sprawling Neverland, where he remembers sitting down in the living room and saying, "Michael! Was that a giraffe that just walked by?"

He spoke of Jackson's generous streak. The singer sent Tucker a wide screen TV just because Tucker casually remarked he liked it, upon seeing it in Jackson's house.

Tucker then cast his eyes on a Rolls Royce in Jackson's estate, hoping history would repeat itself.

"You like it, Chris? You like the Rolls Royce?" asked Jackson.

"Yes," said Tucker, eagerly.

"Then, why don't you go and buy one?" said Jackson.

Famous buddies aside, the audience also appreciated Tucker touching on the haze.

"You all look ready to kick Indonesia's a**. They do the same s**t every year!"

Tucker's show stands up (pun intended) to such classics like Eddie Murphy's Delirious and Richard Pryor's Live At Sunset Strip.

The difference is that Tucker was all-clean humour. Dressed in a white jacket and a bow-tie, he hardly used any expletives or offended anyone.

It's rare (and refreshing) when an African-American comedian doesn't get raw on stage and rip into politicians or public figures. It's so rare, it's up there with solar eclipses, pots of gold at the end of the rainbow and finding a rapper that hasn't done serious jail time.

With Tucker's good, old-fashioned humour, it looks like Tucker's is set for Act 2 of his career. And whatever curveballs that life throws him, like all great comedians, you can bet he's going to see the funny side of it.

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

Rabu, 26 Jun 2013

The Star Online: Entertainment: Movies

The Star Online: Entertainment: Movies

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