Search - Steven Wright: When the Leaves Blow Away on DVD

Too short

Thom Cutler | Brisbane, Australia | 07/13/2007

(3 out of 5 stars)

"You probably don't need me to tell you that Steven Wright is a comic genius. If you doubt it, punch his name into Google and check out the compendiums of his one-liners. On a good day he can outdo Groucho Marx. Some of the material on this DVD isn't up to his best, but my main beef about this offering has to do with its length. The live set on this disc lasts only 42 minutes. Then there's a half-hour short film that's long on arty B&W cinematography but short on laughs. And then there's a grab from a 1988 performance which lasts - wait for it - a whole 2 minutes and 16 seconds. Given the paucity of Wright material on the market, it's a pity the people behind this DVD didn't put together a far more generous package. By all means buy it - just know what you're letting yourself in for running-time-wise."

Amazing

Sarbjit S. Khalsa | Los Angeles, CA | 04/20/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Finally he puts put another DVD since his 1985 HBO special. I got a chance to see him in Canada so I know this DVD is great, you get over 2 hours footage. You won't be disappointed. He is one of my favorites along with Mitch Hedberg, Austin Peterson, and Dimitri Martin.
Enjoy."

Very funny stuff, some classics, and updates, must have for

Concerned One | Clarinda, IA | 06/02/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is a great DVD, featuring a full show of the classic comedian Stephen Wright. His classic one liners and endless rambles, with his classic emotionless delivery. I'm glad some of this is finally captured to DVD. The film "one soldier" that was at the end, written and directed by Steven is alright, but I just lost interest about 10 minutes into it, so that is why i did not give this a 5. However, the bonus featurette of 2:30 seconds of an old show in boston in 1988 is a classic bit of his routine, a fine touch to finish off this piece. Worth buying and having on hand."

Steven Wright doesn't disappoint

Mark Weisinger | Houston, TX USA | 07/16/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The stand-up portion of this DVD is the main attraction, and while it is too short (42 minutes), if you're a fan of his dry, surreal humor, this classic material will have you pausing the DVD so you can quit laughing long enough to catch the next jokes. By the time it was over, my sides hurt.

The short film "One Soldier" is another animal altogether. At first, it appears to be an obvious parody of art-house cinema from Federico Fellini to Jim Jarmusch (with Jarmusch's "Dead Man" being an obvious influence), but as it progresses, it darkens, until by the end, you're left somewhat shellshocked by Wright's seemingly bleak, almost nihilistic, and deeply disturbing worldview. Avoid watching it if you're remotely depressed.

As for the early material, it was good but disappointingly short. Someone else mentioned the wealth of classic Wright material out there, and why none of it has made its way to DVD is a mystery. I've got the Comic Relief shows, and his sets are always among the highlights. So why can't they give fans some of the classic shows from that era on DVD?

Still, even at its length, this DVD is well-worth the price. If you're a Steven Wright fan, it's essential."