He’ll make you laugh and he’ll make you squirm. David Cross is back with his latest DVD… “Bigger and Blackerer”.  I have no doubt that his style of comedy is going to make a lot of people laugh, as well as piss a few people off. But if you are looking for in-your-face comedy especially the type that makes you want to say, “that is so f’d up!” and yet, you can’t help but laugh, then this “Bigger and Blackerer” DVD is definitely for you!
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TITLE: David Cross – Bigger & Blackerer
DURATION: 58 minutes (not inc. special features)
DVD INFORMATION: Color, Widescreen
RATED: Not Rated (Parental Advisory: Explicit Content. Warning: This program is recommended for mature audiences only. It contains adult language and situations)
COMPANY: Sub Pop Records
Released Dated: May 25, 2010
Directed by Lance Bangs
Executive Producer: David Cross
Producer: Aubree Bernier-Clarke
Co-Producer: John Blom
Editor: Aubree Bernier-Clarke
Starring:
David Cross
The new David Cross album and DVD Bigger and Blackerer was taped during two shows, back-to-back on the same evening at Boston’s Wilbur Theatre. As will be obvious by the packaging (and maybe some of the words here), this title applies to both a CD and a DVD; separate releases in separate formats with the same name. Though both media are housed on a shiny, silver five-inch disc, each is an entity unto itself. And while there is some overlap, each is full of material that appears solely on one or the other. Only by watching the DVD will you learn of Cross’ unique relationship with the deaf community, share his canny insights into the editorial machinations behind the Bible, and marvel at how well a bald, middle-aged white guy can fill out a pair of jeans. Yet one must listen to the CD in order to hear about gastro-intestinal misadventures with his dog Ollie Red Sox, or sing along with “The Sultan’s Revenge,†the swinging, Vegas-style opening number composed by Cross and his good friend Mark Rivers (author of the theme to Mr. Show).
During his illustrious career, David Cross has played recurring roles on the TV programs Arrested Development and The Colbert Report, and won an Emmy Award for his contributions to The Ben Stiller Show. He has also starred in such films as Waiting for Guffman, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, the Bob Dylan fantasy I’m Not There (in which he portrayed Allen Ginsberg), and Kung Fu Panda. Bigger and Blackerer is both David Cross’ third album and second DVD on Sub Pop Records, preceded by the albums It’s Not Funny (2004) and Shut Up, You Fucking Baby! (2002), and the 2003 DVD tour documentary Let America Laugh. He is currently living in exile in the UK, working on the show The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret (to be broadcast on IFC in the USA this fall).
David Cross, probably one of the more edgier comedians out there who has been able to tradition outside of standup and has appeared on television (Arrested Development), co-creator of HBO’s “Mr. Show” and also created Comedy Central’s “Freak Show” and also appeared as Stephen Colbert’s nemesis Russ Lieber on “The Colbert Report”. Cross also won an Emmy Award for his contributions to “The Ben Stiller Show” and has been featured in films such as “Waiting For Guffman”, “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind”, “Kung Fu Panda” and the two “Alvin and the Chipmunks” films.
Cross has also been involved on several music videos and video games and has had share of comedy specials on television. In fact, he was selected #85 in Comedy Central’s top 100 Greatest Stand-ups of all time list. Definitely one of the more busy comedians in the US, it’s been six years since he had done a comedy special, but now coming out on CD and DVD is David Cross’ “Bigger and Blacker”.  The special was taped during two shows, back-to-back on the same evening at Boston Wilbur’s Theatre.
Cross is known for his edgy comedy and his comedy style is take no prisoners, he will take on anything that can be seen as very provocative and roll with it.  May it be mocking how the deaf speak, Barack Obama, wanting to purchase a license plate that says “NGR LVR”, his insight to bible and his feeling about God and the Devil, enjoying the show “Intervention”, doing drugs, wearing an S&M mask in the airport (as a sleep mask) and more.
The track listing for “Bigger and Blackerer” is as follows:
- Lil’ Dave Cross
- Retardedopolis
- If You Care
- That One Show About Drugs and Stuff
- Me and Drugs
- Black Stuff
- …Or Worse
- Where We Are Now Back in September ’09
- Parricide Follies
- Amrica! The Greatest and the Worst
- Silly Religious Crazies
- REALLY Silly Religious crazies, I Mean, Double, Triple Crazy!!
- Jesus the Humble
- The Physics of Heaven
- Yeah Bitch
- My Sleep Mask
- Fool Me Once
- Lesson Learned
It’s important to note that there will be a CD sold simultaneously with the “Bigger and Blackerer” DVD (note: both are sold separately) and there is different content on the CD in which Cross talks about his gastro-intestinal misadventures with his dog Ollie Red Sox and a sing along with “The Sultan’s Revenge”. The DVD marks Cross’ second DVD with Sup Pop Records, preceded by albums “It’s Not Funny” (2004), “Shut Up, You Fucking Baby!” (2002) and the 2003 DVD tour documentary “Let America Laugh”.
VIDEO:
“David Cross – Bigger and Blackerer” is featured in color/widescreen. Camera angles are good, there is not much shifting to various camera angles as the majority of the performance is shot up front towards the stage and Cross is usually in the same position throughout the whole performance.
Camera shots are sometimes a close up of the top half or full body. There are some shots of crowd reactions and another camera right behind Cross looking towards the audience in the front row.  But there is no crazy, dizzying editing as the camera shot is long and fixated for several minutes and no major camera changes every few seconds. Lighting is very good and in terms of picture quality I didn’t notice any major compression, artifacts or blemishes on the video.
AUDIO & SUBTITLES:
“David Cross – Bigger and Blackerer” is presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 and Dolby Digital stereo. Dialogue is clear, as with the audience response to the jokes. The 5.1 soundtrack features a more refined mix with audience being utilized through the surround channels but for the most part, the DVD is more front and center channel driven.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
“David Cross – Bigger and Blackerer” comes with the following special features:
- An Existence Predicated Upon Manufactured Necessity -Â (8:03) A deleted scene about those who drink Coors Light, reading the Sky Mall on a flight and more.
- Liveblogging!!! – (3:35) Cross catches a guy live blogging during his show.
- An Unpopular Stance – (2:15) The mention of Dane Cook makes the audience boo.
- The Most Surreal Thing I’ve Ever Experienced – (7:32) David tells a story about a surreal experience when he was working as a messenger in Boston and knowing someone with turrets.
- How To Make Your Own Yogurt – (2:42) David having a conversation with his mother who just read his book.
- Unnecessary Bonus Bullshit – (7:11)Â Footage of David Cross performing live to an audience in Seattle back in 2004.
EASTER EGG:
Navigate with your remote and click on David Cross’s sunglasses and you will access a two minute Easter Egg featuring two clips of David Cross getting his mic confused with his bottle of Bud Light.
David Cross has a provocative comedic style that will no doubt push the button with some of its viewers. His approach is not too abrasive or sexually lewd nor does it seem like it is rehearsed. That is one thing about David Cross and his comedy, the man is speaking from the soul and he has his view of society and for the most part, he has an intellectual style of comedy in one sense and then a more in-your-face, I don’t give a shit what you think style the next. With his latest DVD “Bigger and Blackerer”, you’re either going to find this DVD to be quite hilarious or if you are very sensitive, you will find it offensive.
The comedy can be seen as the type of jokes that one would share amongst their buddies, in which one can be as blunt or non-politically correct and not expect any backlash because you are saying it to a group of friends. May you be talking about a person, politics, religion, etc., there are times when people say things that are off-key and not meant to be said in public. But in this case, Cross takes his feeling and says it to an audience. His jokes are public and it becomes his routine and he’s not afraid to rile people up.
May it be discussion about how deaf people talk, his feelings about Jewish people, Blacks, politics and those who are religious, he’s a man who speaks his mind and probably could care less about how people think. And in some ways, if you are familiar with his comedy, you expect David Cross to be blunt and touch some buttons and in essence, say something so f’d up that the crowd will either respond with laughter or more of a “I can’ t believe he just said that”.
For example, in “Bigger and Blackerer”, Cross talks about race, Black people and Barack Obama. During his comedy routine, Cross talks about how he wants to purchase a Martin Luther King Freedom Foundation license plate personalized with the letters “NGR LVR” and after doing his routine. The camera is then seen showing how the crowd’s response and you can see how some are in disbelief of what he said. And then he follows up by telling people that he’s not racist, because he had lost his virginity to a Black prostitute.
In terms of religion, as an atheist, Cross has no qualms about going after religion and his personal feeling towards various religions, Jesus Christ and the devil. Cross gets into the politics and America’s response to health care and blaming Obama. Many comedians especially for a special, don’t really get into the nitty gritty of politics but Cross is not afraid to partake in some polimicizing about political issues.
And I suppose that is what makes David Cross’ comedy so fascinating. He’s the definitive “shit talker” that you would find amongst your friends that will cap on anyone he/she sees and can get the group to laugh out loud. This is the guy who could care less. He demonstrated that when he attended the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner and snorted cocaine 40 ft. away from Barack Obama. Whether or not this is true, who knows? But the thing is, that is his style and you see that style throughout his comedy performance for “Bigger and Blackerer”.
Overall, “Bigger and Blackerer” is a DVD that will entertain fans of David Cross. It’s uncensored and in many ways, I found “Bigger and Blackerer” hilarious and amusing, although having a kid come up at the beginning and trying to imitate David Cross and starts and shouting out several FU’s was a bit lame but the overall performance from Cross was enjoyable. I do feel his older material was much more in your face than the comedy on “Bigger and Blackerer”, but his routine was still hilarious and provocative. Trust me, there are some parts of his comedy routine and some of his rants may make you squirm but it’s all in fun.
There is no doubt that the jokes dealing with Jews, Blacks, deaf people, religious groups is going to offend people. This is a comedy show that requires one to have an open-mind.  If you are sensitive to certain types of comedy, this is more than likely a DVD not for you. But if you are looking for comedy especially the type that makes you want to say, “that is so f’d up” and can’t help but laugh, then David Cross’ “Bigger and Blackerer” is a solid DVD that will definitely entertain you!