Tom Segura: Ball Hog (2020)

Tom Segura scores laughs with uncomfortably candid stories about mothers, fathers, following your dreams - and other things you'd rather not think about.

Jess’ Review

I love a good comedy special, but I’ll be the first to admit there aren’t many comedians that I follow religiously. Sure I have some favourites, but I lack the seemingly endless, historical knowledge Sam possesses for a lot of these individuals. And so reviewing a comedian beyond ‘yeah, it was funny’ is quite the challenge for me. So hear we go. Whilst Sam is convinced I’ve seen one of Tom Segura’s stand-up shows before, I struggle to recollect both his style and tone, never mind the actual quality of the content! So I went into Ball Hog with absolutely no expectations and an open mind, knowing only that Sam rated this guy on some level. So yeah, it was funny. But it was pretty great and I find myself laughing throughout the majority of the run-time. Segura is blunt, and unafraid to tackle uncomfortable topics that other comics might shy away from. Fortunately, a lot of my favourite comedians aren’t particularly PC, so this worked well for me. Whilst a few jokes had my cringing (- we see Mum jokes taken to a whole new level) it was undeniably funny. Just buckle up and enjoy the bumpy ride. Segura has a fantastic stage presence, clearly enjoying himself and moving through his material at a good pace. There’s variety, and whilst perhaps some of the topics aren’t particularly original, Segura’s critique is scathing and his delivery, fresh and always entertaining. It’s one of the better Netflix specials I’ve watched in recent memory, and has certainly seen Segura slip onto my comedy radar.

8/10

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Sam’s Review

Jess and I decided to try something new with this review, we thought we’d change it up and review a comedy special. Unfortunately we didn’t think this through. While reviewing films has certainly been a learning curve for us, comedy specials are a whole different entity. I cannot even subject you to my usual clumsy attempts to analyse acting, mise-en-scène or anything else. Yet, here we are....

I’m a fan of Tom Segura. While his YMH podcast can be too extreme for me, I really enjoy his 2 Bears 1 Cave show with Burnt Chrysler. (To the few loyal readers we have, who I’m sure won’t get the reference, it’s a joke between the two comics.) Being a fan of Segura and his bizarre personality - it can switch from laidback to psycho in an instant - I have to admit, upon reflection, I am disappointed. Part of this is my fault. I built this up too much. Opposed to Netflix cramming material down my throat, I ignored the special when it first dropped, scrolling past the massive banner that was so desperately trying to lure me in. But with the wait came the anticipation. And as Segura tells us in his special, we should always manage our expectations.

That’s not to say it’s not funny. It is, genuinely. But possibly only on a surface level. Segura is a fantastic comedian. The guy is weirdly charismatic, and his blunt approach to comedy is refreshing. However, on some of the trickier topics, instead of truly tackling them, his jokes lacked depth.

Major points for Jess, she got us tickets to see Dave Chappelle a few months ago. And when I wasn’t laughing, I watched him mesmerised, caught on his every word. That’s partially because I was in the presence of a genius, and partially because he was weaving this complex web of thought and humour about complicated subjects. Discussing trans rights, simultaneously making me laugh while considering the depth of the discussion is artful. And while Chappelle may be a unicorn, I wholeheartedly believe that Segura has that capacity.

If I’m too harsh, it’s only because I truly am a fan of Segura, and believe him to be top-tier. And I repeat, it is funny. Jess was laughing throughout. His subtle personality gives him the ability to make the darkest subjects hysterical. Perhaps I’m spoilt, as I can listen to his podcasts constantly, getting to enjoy his wit often. Yet, I was still a little disappointed.

Segura doesn’t just pride himself on making you squirm, he actively enjoys it. And while some of his jokes lack substance, they still tickle.

7.5/10

P.S. Jess HAS seen a Segura special before.