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Brick Wall Comedy
Brick Wall Comedy

Vicious Circle

Dane Cook

HBO · 2006 · 1 h 35 min

A chaotic victory lap from a comedian at his commercial peak.

Watch it free on YouTube (opens in a new tab)

At the exact peak of his stadium-filling era, Dane Cook runs constant laps around a circular stage to entertain a screaming crowd. Vicious Circle captures him at his most kinetic, turning minor observational thoughts into extended, physical pantomimes. He paces, he yells, and he relies on sheer velocity to command the room, stretching out premises with his own invented slang and conversational momentum.

Filmed in the round at Boston’s TD Banknorth Garden in 2006, the 90-minute HBO broadcast served as a hometown victory lap. Cook was fresh off the double-platinum success of Retaliation, reigning as the most recognizable stand-up of the MySpace generation. The set list includes several of his most quoted routines, including the desire to commit a senseless Breaking and Entering, the social tension of an atheist sneezing, and the psychological release of a weepathon. While later retrospectives frequently highlight how much of the runtime relies on volume over structure, the recording documents an undeniable cultural moment.

The set list

6 bits

  1. Saying something you regret

    Riffing on bro culture, palming a newborn infant, and swearing on an unborn child's life while dynamically moving around the stage.

  2. The truth about lying

    Examining the therapeutic necessity and mechanics of telling lies to get out of things you do not want to do.

  3. Breaking and entering (B&E)

    Describing the logistics of a home break-in, including the rule to never wear your favorite shirt during a burglary.

  4. Seeing your father naked

    Detailing the shock and awe of unexpectedly seeing your father's genitals for the first time.

  5. Sneezing and 'God bless you'

    Questioning the true sincerity behind saying 'God bless you' after someone sneezes.

  6. Bad relationships and makeup sex

    Reframing toxic relationships as a 'relation shit' and exploring the intensity of post-battle makeup sex.

How it plays

Tone
Loud, enthusiastic, high-energy, and observational.
On stage
Bombastic, smug, preening yet personable and relatable frat-boy persona treating mundane situations as huge revelations.
Pace
Frenetic, highly athletic, and energetic, traversing all sides of the in-the-round stage with physical commitment.
About
lying, relationships and breakup sex, cheating, bodily functions, awkward universal experiences

What the critics said

Polarizing; hailed by some as Cook's defining masterpiece that captures the MySpace generation, but heavily criticized by others for padded runtimes, manic delivery over punchlines, and lack of thematic substance.

In the room: Ecstatic, deafening, and intensely loyal, repeatedly cheering, giving standing ovations, and flashing Cook's signature 'SuFi' (Superfinger) hand gesture.

Summed up from reviews, articles and listings. Sources: en.wikipedia.org, rottentomatoes.com, tv.apple.com, du.catalog.lionlibraries.org, vulture.com, salon.com, medium.com, thecomicscomic.com, ign.com.

Backstory

Hometown arena show performed in the round for 36,000 total fans across two sold-out shows, reflecting Cook's status as a comedy sensation powered by MySpace and college-age fans.

Details

Released
Taped
TD Banknorth Garden, Boston
Runtime
1 h 35 min
Where
HBO
Director
Marty Callner
Topics
Before
Retaliation (2005)
After
Rough Around the Edges: Live from Madison Square Garden (2007)

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