If you're reading this, chances are you either want to punch Aziz Ansari (aka RAAAAAANDY) in the face, or you're a fan. After all, it's not easy to feel ambivalent about a guy who's alter ego is a ragingly misogynistic and obnoxious bastard. Either way, the guy's got our attention, and that's what matters most, isn't it?
Ansari first came to national prominence as a cast member of the MTV sketch series "Human Giant," but casual viewers know him from his supporting work on NBC's "Parks & Recreation". Azari's first stand-up special, Intimate Moments for a Sensual Evening, isn't a sharp departure from his Tom Haverford character on P&R. First appearing a bit nervous, he steadily builds steam as he feeds off the encouraging audience and ultimately finds his groove, drawing from personal experience and telling sidesplitting snark-laced stories rather than casual comic observations.
Once he warms up, Aziz shows his potential as a comedy star; his delivery is great, and his mastery of the non-sequitor is razor-sharp. A cunning surrealist who's quick with the wit but never too far away from nervously unconfident, Aziz finds his strongest suit in playing the ruthless devil's advocate. When discussing MTV's "Next," he notes "Some of the shows on the network [MTV] are not my cup of tea... mainly because I don't like huge pieces of shit in my tea."
Running through topics ranging from bed sheets with fraudulent thread counts to the brutal antagonization of his little cousin Harris to his night out with Kanye West, Ansari tells a unique tale for a slightly-less-broish-or-hyper-than-Dane-Cook kind of audience. Dane could never pull off the gut-busting R. Kelly impression. In fact, Ansari's set offers more than a few banshee-scream laughs, and he ends his show with a squirm-worthy 'encore' performance of his Funny People persona, RAAAAAAAANDY.
Sure, RAAAAAAAAAAANDY may be a dick, but as far as face punchings go, I'd say Mr. Cook has it coming long before our friend Aziz here.
There's only one special feature included on the DVD, but the quality outshines the lack of quantity. "UCB Comedy Death Ray Performance" is an extra bolt of stand-up filmed at the Upright Citizen's Brigade Theater in LA on November 3, 2009. Essentially a short performance of all the jokes that built up to his act on the main feature, captured in an intimate setting.
CraveOnline Rating: 8 out of 10
