Review by Steve Bennett

Few comics have the pure charisma of Matt Blaize. He’s a good-looking chap, for sure, but much more importantly, he absolutely owns the stage. Using his tall, wiry frame to full advantage, he moves fluidly and demonstratively, employing a body language that’s as welcoming and natural as his friendly but authoritative delivery. With apparently little exertion, he commands attention.

He sets himself out as a hard-hitting social commentator, making frequent reference to things ‘they’ don’t want him to say, to offence his previously caused and even admitting that he wants to be ‘edgy’ – although he believes Britain is too tolerant a society for him to achieve that.

But it’s not our open-mindedness that prevents him pressing the provocative buttons, but the fact his observations are a lot more superficial than he appears to think. He never really gets to grips with any topic – which tend to be the usual bogeymen, such as the evils of religion – and brings little insight to the table.

Audiences don’t seem to mind too much, however, and his accessible observations get more laughs than his expressive charm alone would explain. But the gags tend to be neither revealing nor distinctive in their outlook and, consequently, not particularly interesting.

A few segments offer more than this, but these tend to be the personal experiences rather than the phoney philosopising that does little more than scratch the surface of the subjects in hand.

Review date: 19 Oct 2007
Reviewed by: Steve Bennett