DVD review by Steve Bennett

Neil Delamere is an affable comic, with an easygoing, mischievous style that gets the best out of his slightly laddish anecdotes. Live, that charm creates a happy-go-lucky atmosphere that gives his material the best chance to shine.

On DVD, however, that effect is muted and the gags are left to fend for themselves – meaning the weaker material is not so easily glossed over. His compere-like banter with the bankers no doubt set the mood in the room, but it’s probably not worthy of immortalising; likewise it’s hard to share his juvenile glee at seeing a product called Langer, which gives him a good few minutes of easy dick jokes.

He has similarly familiar material about Irish drunkenness, shark attacks and even Monica Lewinsky – although he has the grace to admit that one is older than some of his audience will remember.

However this is a something-for-everyone show; and if you don’t go for that, perhaps some of his astute observational routines – such as his take on the inadequacies of windscreen wipers – will have you.

His strongest suit is the longer anecdote, where he has the storytelling skills to successfully farms laughs at every gradual unfolding of the action. His tale of having sex with a gorgeous Swedish girl, who at 6ft 2in dwarfed him, is an especially entertaining yarn.

But while this DVD – recorded at Dublin’s Vicar Street and released on the strenght of his appearance on topical Irish show The Panel – is an enjoyable hour or so of easy-going stand-up, it feels far from a classic collection of routines that will bear up to repeated viewings.

Main feature feature: 65 mins
Extras: Chat With The Lads, 15minutes of entertaining banter with the likes of PJ Gallagher, Willie White, Jason Byrne and Jimeoin, recorded backstage at Dublin’s Carling Comedy Carnival.
Released by: Universal, November 9
Price: £19.99. Click here to buy from Amazon at £12.98

Published: 20 Nov 2009