A Review of “The Do-Over” Comedy Tour.
By Vikrum Mathur
It was around 7th grade when I had started thinking about the various ambitions I had for my life. Being a lover of acting, I realized at that time through my performances, that I enjoyed comedy the most. I decided that I wanted to be on Saturday Night Live when I grow up, and I immediately began studying the work of its various performers. I remember the one person who caught my attention the most and made me laugh the hardest was the inimitable Adam Sandler. Although that particular ambition no longer exists, when I heard that he would be in my neck of the woods to perform live, I simply had to check it out.
Some may debate me on this, but I say that Adam Sandler is a comedy legend in his own right. Spanning a career which has lasted for more than 26 years, Sandler is that rare comedian whose popularity and longevity never ceases. Beginning with an obscure movie called Going Overboard, to becoming one of the most popular Saturday Night Live performers, to ultimately becoming one of the most successful movie stars in Hollywood, Sandler’s career is what dreams are made of. Despite hitting a rough patch on the movie front the past few years, Sandler proved earlier this week that he still reigns as a king in his field.
On May 24, the Eagle Bank Arena was packed with the DC, Maryland, Virginia audience for a an evening of stand-up with Adam Sandler, Rob Schneider, David Spade, Norm MacDonald, and Nick Swardson to promote Sandler’s newest release The Do-Over, which opens May 27 on Netflix. Sandler has signed a deal with Netflix to create original films for the platform, a journey which began with The Ridiculous 6, which also opened recently. This unique promotional strategy bringing together Sandler and his closest friends on the same stage is one of the latest innovations that Netflix has implemented to market its content, and I must say, I was very pleased by this initiative.
Of the main players, the show began with a set by comedian Nick Swardson. Swardson is best known for his comedy specials on Comedy Central and his roles in films like Grandma’s Boy and Bucky Larson: Born To Be a Star. In his live performance, Nick performed very well covering a wide range of topics from his weight, to having kids, to having awkward encounters with the elderly in social situations. Swardson didn’t stick to a specific theme, but his energy and delivery kept the proceedings very entertaining. I think it was a smart move to start with someone as peppy as him.
Following Swardson came the surprise packet of the evening, Norm MacDonald. Norm is known for his dry, monotone yet sarcastic delivery and he did not disappoint. His depiction of himself as a man who simply just does not care about anything whether it is politics or even the subjects of the people he has regular conversations with was absolutely hilarious. Without divulging much, Norm’s recollection of an encounter he had with “Andy Griffith” is one of the funniest things I have ever heard. On top of that, Norm kept a running visual gag (which I doubt many people noticed), where he carried a cigarette with a lighter but did not light it the entire time. I think Norm is one of the most underrated comedians of all time, and it’s a shame he has not yet received his due. If you want to check his comedic style, check out his movie Dirty Work, directed by Bob Saget.
The next set was carried out by Rob Schneider. Schneider has starred in such hilarious movies as Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo and its sequel, The Animal, and The Hot Chick. Unfortunately, the hilarity of his movies did not translate well into his stand up. Schneider touched upon the issues he faces as a middle aged, divorced man, but it just did not elicit much laughter on my end. Schneider seems to be a better actor than stand-up comedian. Disappointing!
David Spade came out next and performed very well. He did not necessarily cover specific themes, but his seemingly spontaneous banter held up appropriately with the audience. He was pleasant, witty, and a “regular guy” which the audience seemed to love. The appreciation that audiences have for his movie Joe Dirt translated into his live performance.
Finally, it was then time for the big man Sandler to come out himself. Sandler was the most charismatic of the lot and covered all kinds of material during his routine from being middle aged (a funnier version than Schneider), being a father, and being a husband. What really made Sandler’s routine stand out were the intermittently dispersed crazy songs that he sang in between different jokes. They all started normal and ended with a bizarre punchline which brought the house down. Ultimately, however, what won the audience was Adam Sandler’s closure. He sang an incredibly touching song as a tribute to his best friend and comedy legend Chris Farley who passed away from a drug overdose in 1998. Following that, Sandler sang his super hit “Chanukah Song” making the crowd go wild. People were waiting for Sandler the whole show and he delivered what was expected of him and more.
This show proved that Adam Sandler is still as hilarious as ever and I hope, for the sake of his career and fans, that his new film is a rousing success.
All in all, I give this show a 9/10 because it exceeded my expectations, allowed me to see a legend who I admire, and of course, it made me laugh hysterically.