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As an Irish man, I feel a little guilty. I’ve lived in the U.S. for 13 years now, and I must confess that I’d never heard of Irish comedian Tommy Tiernan until I saw Something Mental, his live DVD from Chicago. But, like any ex-patriot, I’m always on the lookout for anything that will connect me to the old country. And Tiernan, with his enthusiastic anecdotes about religion, sex, men, women, family, death, and alcohol (gliding effortlessly between these subjects), brought back many ribald and playfully offensive memories of my days as a carefree Irish youth in the ‘80s.
Like many comedians of his ilk (Lenny Bruce is cited as an influence), Tiernan is a storyteller and a self-confessed rambler. But there is method to his rambling madness. He eschews the witty one-liners of many stand-up comedians, seeing himself more as a conversationalist than a traditional stand-up comedian. And like many Irishmen of his generation, his stories are told with a liberal smattering of the F-bomb. But after a while, the expletives become a part of the linguistic rhythm. Much like Scottish comedian Billy Connelly (another huge influence), Tiernan comes across as a sassy teenager with a rebellious glint in his eye. One can almost hear his inner monologue: “How far can I push your boundaries of good taste? Here I go…. What do you think about that?” And even if he does offend (and he may to some sensibilities), he’ll win many over with his cheeky Irish lilt. We get away with so much with our lilt.
No performance film—no matter how great the performer or production quality—can ever replace the actual live experience itself. And while Something Mental attempts to capture Tiernan’s manic and energetic stage presence, something is lost in the translation—the direction just lacks the reciprocal energy. That’s not to say that there aren’t moments of stomach-rupturing laughter. There certainly are. But they lack that vital punch that only a live theatrical performance can provide. But if you can get over that—and I think that discovering this very funny comedian will help with that—then you’re in for a tasteless (in a good way) Gaelic treat.
One of the extras is also worth a view. Skip Tiernan’s walk through Chicago, as it says nothing about the performer (and, honestly, it’s not very funny), and go straight to the interview. Here, you’ll get to know Tiernan on a more human level—and not just the manic personality we see on stage. The conversation is honest and real. His answers, like his comedy, are not simple punch lines, but they’re articulate and thoughtful insights into his life. Of course, all of this is done with that ever-present, mischievous Irish grin.
Something Mental is highly recommended for anyone who enjoys roguish adult humor.
