Kevin Hart's Let Me Explain is an amazingly successful tour-de-force that disproves the notion that stand-up comedies won't quite make it on the big screen. If you are a funny enough and respected enough comedian, you can definitely stand in front of an audience for an hour, film yourself doing so, and make millions presenting it to others that never quite have had the chance to actually see you live. Laughter is contagious, and seeing these kinds of films in movie theaters gives the stand-up that extra edge.
Kevin Hart is not the funniest man out there, but his career is resembling Eddie Murphy's epic 80s run the best: a good mix of lower-budget films mixed in with performances being shown on the big screen. This type of formula works well and it advertises your upcoming projects that much better. I assure you that because of Let Me Explain, his January 2014 collaboration with Ice Cube will have a much better chance of being successful.
That being said, I am compiled a short list of comedians whom I would love to see hit the big screen and have a temporary shot at big screen stardom. Some have been on the big screen, some have not,but overall these are seven people I would love to see tackle a stand-up comedy movie---uncut, untamed, and with plenty of wiggle room to get creative.
Honorable Mention:
1) Jim Gaffigan: He is arguably the most underrated comedian out there, as his jokes-per-minute ratio stands as among the best. Look how many he spit out in this one clip alone.
2) Louis C.K.: The highest-acclaimed comedian out there has done films already and even had one at Sundance, but I would like to see one with even more studio support
3) Whose Line is it Anyway Cast: An uncut version of the regular staff with 80-100 minutes of potential material to hit the big screen. Potential is great.
#7:Jerry Seinfeld
He is not everyone's cup of tea. His humor is extremely dry, very thick, subtle, sarcastic, and worded so intricately it would drive the sanest of people up the wall. That being said, his observational humor ran the 90s with his sitcom and his stand-up. His witty and fun pokes at daily life made the show as maddening and as timeless as it currently stands. I would love to see him attempt to tackle the 2010s and all the random things that occur in the world. He defeated the 90s. He should take on this current decade as well.
#6: Chris Tucker
Wasted talent. The man has been in ONE non Rush Hour movie since 1998. Are you kidding me? The man that stole every scene in Friday, the same man that pulled a great stand-up career, only ONE movie? And a drama that gave him 5 scenes??? No, I know the man is funny, and its up to the nonrestrictive big screen to allow the dog off the leash. Tucker, please come back. Please oh please.
#5: Conan O'Brian
Amazing writer. Great host. Hilarious man altogether. Conan gave us snippets of his uncut material with his Don't Stop documentary but we didn't see enough. Not enough at all. I would love to actually see him pull off one of these shows in its entirety for all of us to see. He can sing, he can play the guitar, he can (sort of) dance, and he can kill an audience with an abundance of great skits and jokes. While he is far cleaner and more controlled on TBS (most likely because of his fears of repeating an NBC incident), him on the big screen would be his big chance to truly go the whole nine yards.
#4: Chris Rock
Arguably the best alive comedian out there, even if he hasn't performed as much stand-up in recent years. Since the 90s he has been involved with more memorable quips and skits than any other comedian, including one that created so much controversy (the one I posted) he can't repeat it again. He is Kevin Hart on steroids, speed, and cocaine. He loves to rile up an audience in a heartbeat while backstab America with his take on politics and the way things are. Chris Rock is one of the legends, and the thing with legends is----you always want to see them, regardless of how many times you have seen them before.
#3: Eddie Murphy
Can I remind you all that this man conquered the 80s in cinema and also in stand-up? This man conquered Saturday Night Live, conquered comedy, and was well on his way to become one of the most recognizable entertainers in the last 100 years. And all this happened before the 90s when it started going downhill. And before the 2000s when it nearly hit rock bottom. And then before Norbit....ugh. Murphy almost attempted a comeback with an Oscar hosting gig until Brett Ratner ruined the chance for everybody. You need to come back to the big screen with new material, a new edge, and re-assert yourself as one of the greats. It would be a damn shame if your reputation erases what you did in the 80s.
#2: Dave Chappelle
Had the greatest sketch show in history. That's right, I rank it above the inconsistent Saturday Night Live. The Chappelle Show was glorious, every episode was funny, some skits will go down in h.i.s.t.o.r.y. as some of the greatest moments television has ever seen. But we all forget that his stand-up was downright on point as well. He has the charisma, he has the talent, and has the ability to pull off a legendary stand-up comedy movie to the likes of Pryor and Murphy. But...he needs a comeback. He dropped off the face of the earth after Africa, with little appearances here and there. I want him to come back, and the big screen would make for a great opening platform. Can you imagine a Chappelle Show-like movie?
P.S. Block Party doesn't count. That was far back in 2005.....too long ago.
#1: Bill Cosby
Bill. Freakin'. Cosby. The man is a bonafide legend that made only one film. Only one, and it still stands as one of the greatest you will ever see. He is a gifted storyteller, a decent human being, clean cut for the family to listen, and overwhelmingly one of the biggest influences to most of the comedians on this list. I would love to see a swan song of this legend as he makes one more movie, just one more. Tell your stories, spit your subtle (not as subtle as it used to be) politics, and please give us another taste of your stand-up that remains golden, that ages like fine wine, and is layers above almost every comedian before and after your glory days.
He remains one of my favorite comedians, and one of the remaining legends from the 80s, a time in which Pryor, Murphy, Seinfeld, Kingston, Carlin had their greatest years and greatest moments behind the microphone. While Bill Cosby's name won't have the mass market appeal of the others on this list, I can guarantee you it will still deliver. Simply because Bill Cosby rarely ever disappoints.
Yes, I did forgive him for Ghost Dad.
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