MARGARET CHO: BEAUTIFUL - DVD review

Vulgar, profane language. Socially unacceptable racial terminology. Behind closed door synonyms for just about every body part that performs a sexual function. You though might think it's a man's world out there in regards to stand-up comedy, you're ever so wrong. And my guess is you've probably never heard of Margaret Cho.

Cho takes a pretty unfiltered, no holds barred approach to her work. And why not? She's a minority within a minority, as there aren't too many Asian women making big strides in the American stand-up comedian scene. In a world where everything is supposed to be politically correct and inoffensive to just about every demographic out there, Cho has taken off her gloves and tossed them far out of reach. She also doesn't seem to care whether or not critics like her material, so long as she's making people laugh. Maybe this is what makes her so very popular.

She's been well known for a good fifteen years, and "Beautiful" is a tour she did in mid-to-late 2008. The routine presented on this Image Entertainment release was filmed nine days before the historic presidential election that year, and Cho frequently reminds her viewers just how important this matter is. She's fearlessly political, but whether or not you agree with her unique takes on controversial subjects like gay marriage and abortion is, of course, another story.

Filmed at the Long Beach Terrace Theater, "Beautiful" is Cho's palace from beginning to end. She saunters onto the dimly lit stage in a semi-formal black evening gown that offsets quite prominently with her upper body (it's covered in tattoos, and Cho has become an enthusiast since 2006), and holds her position next to a stool and in between two easels with images of her face. Cho doesn't really pace back and forth much, nor is there any fun audience participation. What happens in the eighty or so minute run time is a unique blend of insults, political commentary, sexual innuendo and, depending on your perspective, humor and chuckles.

I've never seen a stand-up comedian begin with a phrase like "I (expletive) hate Sarah Palin," but there's a first time for everything, I suppose. Cho gets going before the audience finished applauding her presence, and it's a non-stop adventure from that point forward. She's quick to get to sex, commenting on gay and lesbian couples far more regularly than heterosexual ones. According to Cho, not only do gay men make the best lovers, but they are also much more attractive than straight men. And although Cho's been married 2003, she comments frequently about her own lesbian experiences, including the many different shapes, sizes and smells that female bodies may possess.

We learn how unhappy Cho gets when she hears from those who don't exactly agree with homosexuality. "I (expletive) hate it when people say they tolerate gays," she states. "What the (expletive) does that (expletive) mean? And who the (expletive) cares?" It seems as though her real comments are more about gender identity and its construction than anything else. Cho indirectly challenges her fans and viewers, and wants them to ask not just why someone spouts these comments and believes in these processes, but what components from their physical and cultural experience might contribute to such a mindset.

She also focuses on beauty throughout, hence the disc's and tour's title. Cho argues, amidst profanity and taboo sexual language, that everyone is beautiful in his or her own unique way, and that as individuals we perform better in our daily lives if we believe it ourselves. She acknowledges how hard this is in a society where people with big pockets and access to almost anything they can buy make decisions and have power, but urges those watching to stand tall and, quite simply, "be beautiful."

I appreciated how passionate Cho was around things that many would rather just push aside and say without hesitation, "It's not my problem." But that's just what Cho wants us to take home. All the things she discusses are problems we each have and hold, whether or not we will admit it. She helps provide a space where it's okay to air one's dirty laundry, and tries to communicate that the sooner we take up our problems as individuals and a whole, the sooner things might get a little better for the folks in certain communities that get made fun of, oppressed and victimized regularly.

Cho's problem is that her words and actions are so extreme her messages get smothered. She seems to suffer from the same problems the Green Party often does. Both present good ideas, but because these ideas are so far to one side or the other, they alienate more than they attract. Plus, Cho is loud and vulgar by almost any standard. I have skin that's thicker than most, and I was more than overwhelmed after about 15 minutes.

If you decide to watch "Margaret Cho: Beautiful," know that you'll have to pay attention to get the commentary that's embedded throughout the disproportionate profanity and noise. Whether or not it's an equal trade is, like beauty, in the eye of the beholder.

Video:
Cho's stand-up routine is presented in a pretty good looking 1.78:1 enhanced anamorphic widescreen video transfer. The images are extremely crisp, and there's almost no grain to be found. Cho is illuminated on a dimly lit stage, and the theater audience occasionally appears in a pan shot from a distance. Not many bright colors to go around in this routine, but somehow the darks aren't overwhelming.

Audio:
Pretty strong. Cho comes through very loud and clear from start to finish. Her routine plays extremely well thanks to the Dolby Digital 5.1 audio soundtrack. No background music appears until the very end, when Cho decides to sing her dedicated fans a song she wrote herself. Even though the case states the audio track is surround sound capable, I didn't notice much, if anything. No subtitles are available, but the audience's laughter and applause are easily audible.

Extras:
There's some behind the scenes footage, but that's it. Hardcore Cho fans might be disappointed in this, but unless you fall under that umbrella, you'll probably survive.

A Final Word:
I liked "Beautiful," but I didn't think it was funny at all. Cho gets points for being unafraid to talk about things that many won't touch with a ten-foot pole. Depending on the communities you belong to, you may be laughing, feel offended or simple sit without emotional reaction. I don't know how this ranks with the other things she's done to date, but since her popularity doesn't appear to be going down, it seems like she's doing something right.