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Brick Wall Comedy
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Promotional art for No Pain
Cover image credit: via TMDB

No Pain

Chris D'Elia

Netflix · 2020 · 55 min

Frantic physical comedy and weird scenarios from the State Theatre.

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Chris D’Elia relies on kinetic movement, vocal distortions, and intense physical commitment to elevate his absurd premises. Taped at the State Theatre in Minneapolis, this 2020 special shows D’Elia leaning heavily into physical comedy, treating the stage as a space to act out elaborate scenarios like a gangster having a gastrointestinal crisis or a dolphin plotting a crime. Released shortly before public allegations derailed his career, this hour caught the comic at his commercial peak, driven by the massive audience of his weekly podcast. While some critics and fans felt the highly rehearsed, cartoonish performance lacked the casual charm of his loose podcast riffs, others welcomed his high-octane delivery and commitment to the bits, which include growling at public babies and analyzing the unwarranted confidence of grandpas.

The set list

5 bits

  1. Growling at a baby in public

    Acts out the physical and childish impulsivity of growling at an infant, noting that he did not think through what happens after the growl

  2. Dolphin sexual assault and investigation

    Warns about aggressive dolphin behavior and acts out a fictional starfish detective investigating an apparent dolphin suicide

  3. Useless mutant superpowers

    Imagines an overlooked X-Men mutant whose sole power is instinctively knowing whether people want to see his penis, reacting to TMZ questions about Louis C.K.

  4. AirDropping photos on airplanes

    Describes mischievously sending random inappropriate photos to strangers via AirDrop while flying

  5. Crosswalk pedestrian stereotype

    Deliberately lets an awkward premise hang regarding pedestrians taking too long at crosswalks to highlight tension and audience boundaries

How it plays

Tone
Irreverent, goofy, and silly
On stage
High-energy, physically animated 'bro' and man-child persona utilizing facial contortions, arm-waving, silly voices, and laughing at his own jokes
Pace
Energetic physical tempo punctuated by animated act-outs and extended story spinning
About
cancel culture and self-censorship, comedy stemming from pain versus having a good childhood, straight-edge lifestyle, male privilege, absurd animal behavior

What the critics said

Mixed; critics highlighted his undeniable charisma and physical act-out performance skills, but found the material lightweight, the 'bro' persona dated, and the anti-censorship arguments underdeveloped

Summed up from reviews, articles and listings. Sources: metacritic.com, rottentomatoes.com, decider.com, chortle.co.uk, en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.

Backstory

Released during the early COVID-19 pandemic quarantines; reflects on his straight-edge lifestyle, supportive upbringing without trauma, turning 40, and modern discourse around comedians getting canceled or offending audiences

Details

Released
Taped
State Theater, Minneapolis
Runtime
55 min
Where
Netflix
Director
Matt D'Elia
Topics
Before
Comedians of the World (2019)

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