Hannibal Buress: Miami Nights (2020)

Hannibal Buress returns with his first comedy special in four years, Miami Nights, premiering via YouTube live stream. The special comes three years after the Chicago native's 2017 arrest...

Sam’s Review

Comedy is subjective. That is my disclaimer. If you walk away from Miami Nights feeling that Hannibal killed it, I wouldn't be upset. But, I wouldn't agree.  Hannibal has a very unique comedy style.  Purposely awkward, off-beat, hip-hop enthused. Paired with his sharp wit, this usually manifests itself in a special that combines observational humour with self-depreciation shown through an eccentric lens. This time, it felt as if he didn't really have much to say. Oh, he touches on a lot. Especially his 2017 arrest in Miami, that no doubt inspired the name of the special. And while he recounts it in his signature storytelling fashion, it lacks the punchlines to land the big laughs. Coming across instead, as a club set where he's trying to work out the joke in his own mind. It's disappointing, as Hannibal has a very unique mind when it comes to comedy. In many ways, he's ahead of his time, and it'd be interesting to revisit Miami Nights in a year or two, to see how it's aged. Yet, I suspect that I won't.

However, there are parts that had me laughing. Dissecting a rappers song and putting them into pray form was a rare moment where Hannibal found his usual form. And, he is an innovator, for better or for worse. With this show he's pushed the boundaries of what comics can do with their specials. He uses auto-tune to great effect in a joke, for example. On stage, a massive screen sits behind him, with certain vivid graphics popping up, perfectly synchronised with jokes. It adds to the punchline, and is never a distraction. I had mixed feelings on his post-production additions. Adding CGI fire or changing the background as he saw fit. Again, incredibly innovative. The concept is brilliant, a creative way of enhancing the act and the punchline, but at times it became a distraction. Though, at the risk of sounding old, this could be because it took me a second to adjust to what was happening. It's worth a watch, having been released for free on YouTube. Again, typical Hannibal. In a time when Netflix is the norm, he creates his own lane. This may not be the perfect introduction to him, if you've not seen his material before. Though a uniquely brilliant comic, for the most part his talent is not on display here.

6/10