Review: Jeff Dunham “Relative Disaster”

Call Dunham, the “Disaster Artist”.

There are little things about Netflix that you just can’t truly appreciate until you see your favorite personality transition from linear television to that of a streaming service. EVERY genre is benefiting from this. Worried that your adult animation is getting too safe and bland on FOX? I give you Netflix’s BoJack Horseman and F is for Family. Miss the days when Comedy Central had a bunch of stand-up comedy? I give you Netflix, which features a BEVY of stand-up comedy that is completely uncensored.

And I was nervous, I was nervous that Jeff Dunham wouldn’t be able to translate. Ya see, over the last couple of years, the Food Network gave me a Jeff Dunham that I wasn’t crazy about. Gone were the days of an up and comer not afraid of what audience he was talking to and in was a performer that was clearly attempting to be a way more warm and fuzzier personality that usually stuck to the Dunham puppet characters that wouldn’t offend anyone. Popular characters like Achmed the Terrorist wouldn’t DARE show up on Food Network, a network built on more core conservative values that would be attractive to its bible-belt audience.

Netflix…is different. Gone are the days where you really have to worry about what people are watching and just concern yourselves with making sure that they STAY watching. As a result, content is produced the way it ought to be…uncensored. And Relative Disaster has no problems with taking advantage.

Fans of old-school Jeff Dunham are going to love the edgier stylings of a guy willing to just LET GO. His newest stand-up special is funnier, better written, and features some of the freshest material Jeff has done in years. No matter how successful Jeff has gotten, I don’t think he gives a fuck. He buys batmobiles, and in “Relative Disaster” Jeff has a bunch of jokes as to what he thinks the outsiders are probably thinking…a man in his forties who is married to a wife nearly two decades younger with two brand-new baby boys and a daughter who is about to get married. Jeff gets why this all sounds weird, and as a result, has no problem writing material that has no problem featuring his new and returning characters all taking turns hitting Jeff over the head with ugly truths. Whether it has to do with Jeff being adopted or learning about his ancestry, Jeff tells all, and it’s hilarious.

Those who prefer Jeff’s material that is more of a mockery of current pop culture, do not fear…he goes there. Everyone from our President to the Kardashians and others all gets it right in the kisser, I mean, Jeff even showcases a clip that insinuates that his biological mother may be a whore.  In terms of characters, all of your favorites are here, Walter, Peanut, Achmed, and Bubba J. all get a piece of the action, but it’s a fat baby named Sheamus that may have stolen the hearts of the Irish audience.

The drawbacks are few but they’re here. For starters, I miss the days when Jeff Dunham used to kick off his shows with a little monologue before his pals came one. And I would’ve liked to have seen maybe one produced short for each of the characters instead of just Walter. But really, this is just nitpicking of an otherwise strong set. At a little over 70 minutes, you’ll definitely have your fill of the banter, but Jeff does a nice job of throwing in a couple of new ventriloquist tricks into the fray to keep his audience honest. Quite honestly, no one is doing it better right now, but ventriloquism is an art form that I think is on the incline, and one has to wonder if Netflix is gonna continue to reap the benefits.

SCORE
8/10