KEVIN HART, LET ME EXPLAIN: RISING STAR

There are concert films released of comics all the time. The most confusing thing these days is to know which came first, their being comics or having starred movies. It seems the two are connected more often than not. In the case of Kevin Hart my first exposure to him was via movies and TV. Now that I've had a chance to see his stand up performance I see bright things ahead for him.

KEVIN HART: LET ME EXPLAIN begins somewhat different than most stand up comic performances. Instead we open at a party being held by Hart in celebration of his success. The problem is that now that he's successful he's found all the baggage that being there adds on. Slams for not being funny to not being all that he can be etc. lead to his shutting down the party and heading for Madison Square Garden so he can set the record straight. In all honesty it's an interesting premise to start with but goes too long, nearly 10 minutes of a 75 minute film.

Hart arrives at the Garden and walks out to roaring applause and a humongous stage that has shooting flames, part of a joke he shares with the audience that he pops up now and then. It is here that he starts the stand up portion of the film and the start feels a bit rocky. The excitement that Hart feels is on display from the get go as he starts out with such a rapid fire delivery that by the time you get one joke he's already three past it. His delivery even sounds like he's gasping for breath before he can get out his next line.

Eventually he slows down this delivery and begins to offer his take on life and more importantly the life that he is now leading. Hart is the type of comedian who gets his humor not from writing simple jokes that start out with a set up and end with a punch line. Hart tells stories that are funny. Some of the best comedians have done this in the past, most notably Bill Cosby. Hart has the potential to become as successful as Cosby with the way he delivers his stories and how they drag you in the longer they become.

 With only 60 minutes or less of material on display (the rest is the intro, applause and a heartfelt moment at the end) Hart gives you plenty to laugh at. No spoiler warning here as I don't intend to spoil any jokes he offers by sharing them. Just know to expect some truly funny tales. Also expect to find one thing that's always bothered me about young comedians which is the need to use the bluest of language. If Hart were employing a swear far at a quarter a pop just for his use of the F bomb you could feed a family of four at a nice restaurant. If this doesn't offend you then you'll never notice it.

By the end there were two things that stood out for me with this performance film. The first was the potential that Hart shows. He really can be quite funny and not just in a film performance way but with his delivery and body language joined together to make something that will evoke laughs. The other thing was the heartfelt moment near the end when he walks back onstage to thank the audience for supporting him and for coming out to the show. As one of few comedians to sell out Madison Square Garden it brings him to tears of appreciation for his fans. Anyone willing to acknowledge those who brought them this far earns respect from me.

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