American Dream
Netflix · 2018 · 57 min
A French comedy superstar translates his act for New York.
An immigrant’s view of American culture is always a reliable well for stand-up, but the novelty here is that the newcomer is already a stadium-filling superstar in Europe. Gad Elmaleh attempts to conquer the English-speaking world by treating his transition to New York like a humbling comedy experiment. The best parts of the set highlight his bewilderment over American dating etiquette, particularly a bit where a simple invitation to grab a drink is met with a chaotic barrage of emojis (including a Spanish dancer, a monkey covering its face, and an eggplant) forcing him to send back an ambulance in sheer confusion.
Filmed at The Town Hall in New York City, this 2018 Netflix release marked Elmaleh’s first full English-language special. Much of the hour relies on physical comedy and exaggerated expressions to bridge any remaining linguistic gaps. He pokes fun at the romanticized Paris that Americans dream of but does not actually exist, and details the nerve-wracking experience of trying to explain to U.S. customs officers why he is traveling on a Moroccan passport with gold Arabic lettering.
While some critics noted that the special occasionally recycled observational premises from his earlier French-language work, his focus on the friction of learning a new language keeps the show grounded. Elmaleh is a highly expressive performer, using physical comedy to show the sheer exhaustion of trying to understand American idioms, particularly when native speakers offer no actual help beyond telling him “either way” for every grammar question.
The set list
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Non-literal American slang expressions such as 'I'm down' and 'I'm good'
Examines the bewildering nature of idioms when interpreted literally by a non-native speaker.
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Americans romanticizing Paris
Jokes that Americans speak of a mythical, overly romantic Paris that does not actually exist, making him feel like he has never even been to his own former hometown.
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The Cheesecake Factory and American dining extremes
Marvels at the excessive scale of American restaurant portions, questioning why cheesecake consumption would warrant an industrial factory.
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Baseball metaphors for sex and dating
Rejects the concept of rounding bases, contrasting it with his soccer background where you either score or you do not.
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Arriving at U.S. Customs
Recalls telling a customs officer he entered the country for the American dream, only to be told, 'We don't do that anymore.'
How it plays
- Tone
- Witty, irreverent, observational, apolitical, and affectionate.
- On stage
- An observant, inquisitive cultural outsider and keen student of language; expressive and facially funny with a precise, clean observational style drawing frequent comparisons to Jerry Seinfeld.
- Pace
- Breezy, energetic, bubbly, and frenetic; dynamic physical presence moving actively across the stage.
- About
- Immigrant life and the American dream, American slang, dialect, and colloquialisms, Dating culture and nightclubs, American cuisine and customer service culture, Differences between French, Moroccan, and American cultural norms
What the critics said
Praised as a solid, charming, and highly entertaining introduction to American audiences, highlighting Elmaleh's precise observational timing, physical humor, and playful dissection of everyday American habits.
In the room: Enthusiastic and responsive, featuring an audience containing French expatriates who cheered his Moroccan origins.
Backstory
Moroccan-born comic who moved from Paris to New York City in 2015, spending years learning English to achieve his dream of performing comedy in the United States.
Details
- Released
- Taped
- The Town Hall, New York City
- Runtime
- 57 min
- Where
- Netflix
- Director
- Michael Simon
- Topics
- Before
- Gad Gone Wild (2017)
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