In the midst of the Diddy take-over and hurricane worries, a stand-up comedian took the stage at this year's MTV Video Music Awards. Who was this spiky-haired guy, talking about shooting people who wear Superman T-shirts, just to see if they bleed? Dane Cook, 33, is a hilarious comedian who is quickly making his name known in the mainstream market.
After a 15-year professional comedic adventure, Cook's latest CD — or legacy as he might call it — Retaliation, hit the Billboard Top 200 at number four. A mesmerized and dedicated fan base helped catapult him into the position of the highest-charting comedian since Steve Martin.
The new double CD, with bonus DVD, has helped Cook's career gain some momentum. Not only does his name appear on this week's Rolling Stone cover, but he's also currently filming a pilot for his own television show, "Cooked."
Cook's material has evolved since his debut CD, Harmful If Swallowed. It had a more hyper vibe, from talking about people's infatuation with car accidents to being a kid being "hopped up on the Q" (Nesquik® powder).
On Retaliation the audience will follow what Cook calls the "Dane-train in motion" as he takes the listener on a comedic journey. He spends more time linking bits together, referring back to prior punch lines and enhancing the experience by relating new material back to his first CD. Listeners get more than just memorable one-liners, they get an entire story. If you haven't heard his first CD, Cook makes you want to run out and buy it.
His humor is easy to take in and relate to. It's honest and fresh, yet obviously well planned out. His comedy is so funny because it's so true. Who doesn't want to leave a legacy or have super powers? Cook also likes to upgrade, like ditching a car and driving a cement truck around town. You never quite know where Cook's twisted mind will take you.
Retaliation offers a total of 29 tracks. Cook creates his own lyrics to the irksome annoyance of a car alarm and plays off the fact that this country loves violence. On several tracks he talks about the realities of relationships, including dating a bucket of yuck, fighting over nothing and having an infamous ONS — one night stand. He also refutes the clichéd myth that all men want is sex. Obviously, there are two things that top sex: being part of a heist or owning a pet monkey.
In addition, fans get even more for their money with Retaliation's bonus DVD. It includes clips from Comedy Central's "Shorties Watchin' Shorties," "Crank Yankers" and more.
His live shows sell out and his routines have become the quotable language of his loyal fans. The laughs don't stop when the CD does. The material is something that stays with you, finding its way into your bar conversations and even your own sense of humor.
Grade: A
This article was published in The Marquette Tribune on September 1, 2005.