No Marge, Comedy Central's the one that I want

These days, your typical movie represents the combined effort of actors, writers, producers, and a slew of cinematic elements that almost inevitably includes special effects. The most important criticism, whether or not you enjoyed the movie, depends on the amalgamation of all these factors. Sometimes, factors can cancel each other out: for example, a movie with bad acting redeemed by a good story, or a film lacking in plot improved by good special effects. I'm the One that I Want, following in the footsteps of comedy concert films such as The Original Kings of Comedy and Eddie Murphy Raw, is a gutsy move by comedian Margaret Cho that lacks almost all of these movie elements. As with any attempt to bring stand-up comedy to a mainstream audience it all comes down to one question: do you like the comedian?

COURTESY CHO TAUSSIG PRODUCTIONS Heh, and then that part when she stopped playing and bitch-slapped the whole audience? Comic genius!

Despite the importance Cho occupies in the show (filmed at San Francisco's Warfield Theater), I'm the One that I Want is not the sole creation of the comedian. Director/cinematographer Lionel Coleman's visuals are accented by his variety of camera work: Cho's standup performance was filmed from cameras placed on all sides of her, which allows constant changes in perspectives and keeps things interesting. Midway through the performance, for example, Coleman places his camera behind the audience to provide a striking view of their silhouettes. However, none of these aesthetic touches hold one's attention as much as Cho does.

A lack of inhibition is an important attribute for comedians, and it happens to be an area in which Cho excels. She begins with the idea of fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld as a murderer and then moves effortlessly through her relationships with gay men, an experience with lesbian love on a cruise ship, the hardships leading up to and following the failure of her sitcom, All American Girl, and her experiences with racism. There's no way to know how much of it is true, although Cho's description of the sitcom cancellation certainly sounds sincere. She makes no attempt to spare her feelings or those of anyone else, opting instead for all-out shock value. An array of faces and imitations spice up the tirades. Like most comedians, she coaxes as much laughter as she can out of every joke and every facial expression. If you are a fan of Cho, you will love this extreme manifestation of her.

I, by contrast, had had no previous exposure to Cho's comedy whatsoever, and was pretty disappointed. I don't want to make accusations about tasteless humor. At times, Cho's humor is so shocking that some jokes leave you laughing before you realize what you're laughing at. However, it was a cheap sort of laugh, more shocking than humorous.

Film

I'm the One that I Want Directed by Lionel Coleman Starring Margaret Cho York Square Cinema

Her topics were not that unusual for a comedian, but at times I wished she could have been a little more subtle—some jokes really don't need to be acted out. As for the story of her sitcom, I found myself feeling sorry for her. However, pity—especially directed towards the comedian herself—simply isn't the point of a comedy concert movie. Her excellent impressions of everyone from fashion designers to her own mother probably display her comedic talent more than any other aspect of the performance. However, I often found myself wondering why she would conclude a joke by scrunching up her face for 15 seconds.

I am a huge fan of comedy in its myriad forms, and I realize that any number of factors can create an atmosphere in which a joke that would be great under other circumstances just doesn't seem funny. However, those not ready for Cho's style of brash humor should instead get their necessary fix of crudity from South Park.

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