Eugene Mirman
En Garde, Society! (Sub Pop)
By Amber Drea
Published: July 5th, 2006 | 11:06am
Eugene Mirman is part of the comedy scene that includes David Cross, Patton Oswalt, comedy trio Stella, and cast members from the animated series Home Movies, on which he made guest appearances. While his intelligent and weird humor fits right in with this company, Mirman’s style of joke telling is all his own. On his second full-length album, he continues to bring the funny that he perfected so well on his debut The Absurd Nightclub Comedy Of Eugene Mirman (Suicide Squeeze).
The secret to Mirman’s hilarity is his delivery — somewhere between exaggerated sarcasm and cheerful disdain with a little psychotic schizophrenia thrown in. He likes one- and two-liners with punch lines, which can be hit or miss, and dislikes transitions, often going from deep-fried stuffed cheeseburgers to abortion in the same breath, but somehow it works. Another defining trait of his act is his use of non sequiturs that usually involve animals, such as cats on fire, magic horses, or shitting mice, and incorporating interactive bits like a version of home-made gift coupons for the audience (“This coupon guarantees two minutes of ass party — your rules”).
However, Mirman’s best material comes in the form of anecdotes, such as his run-in with Ace Frehley or being mistaken for a prostitute in Chelsea, and when he’s making fun of religion, George Bush (whom he compares to Chuck Norris), racists, and other ignorant people. Highlights include skewering a conservative comedy group called the Right Stuff and the Christian teen magazine Revolve, slogans for freedom (“You can cum on its face”), and letters to Palestine and Israel, advertising, and boobs. The record ends with a piece called “Driving and Thinking,” in which Mirman analyzes the night’s performance on his way home.
The accompanying DVD features nine short films Mirman self-produced, except for “Scotch and Soda,” which was originally created for Showtime but never aired, and Michael Showalter’s (terrible) Eugene Mirman impersonation. While most of these shorts aren’t funny (watching with commentary is recommended), Mirman’s dating advice in “Sexpert,” punk character in “Punk,” and medieval knight in “Sir Eugene” stand up through multiple viewings. Likewise, En Garde, Society! will keep you laughing every time you listen.
Issue #28
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