Review of Roy Chubby Brown: King Thong Live

Introduction

Back for his umpteenth video release is Roy "Chubby" Brown with the oddly-titled "King Thong". Well, at least it isn`t as full-on as his live 1995 Blackpool release, the title for which I couldn`t possibly list here. A piece of advice before I begin: unless you are used to the perils of the internet`s freedom, do not attempt to Google "Chubby King Thong".

Most of you will be familiar with Chubby`s on-stage work by now, and should need no warning. For those new to his stage persona (Chubby`s real name is Royston Vasey), please be aware that this man goes out of his way to be, as he puts it, "the rudest man in Britain". That means bad language (including lots of "c" words), hundreds of sexual references, and jokes about various diseases/afflictions.

You have been warned!

Video

Video is presented in 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen, and is very good. Everything is very clear and sharp, and frankly a transfer of this quality is a little lost on a stand-up comedy show. You will notice how vibrant the colours are on Chubby`s attire!

Audio

Audio is presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 & is also very good. Chubby`s voice always stands out well from the front speakers, with the audience`s laughter from both front and rear speakers. A very warm audio feel as you would expect from 5.1, and even some subwoofer action on some of Chubby`s musical interludes.

Features

The only extras are short, 30 second clips advertising Chubby`s previous video releases. These clips are not as throw-away as they might sound, as they do contain some good gags.

Conclusion

There is no question about it: either you love Chubby Brown or you hate him. There isn`t much room for middle ground! Personally, I find his antics particularly funny, and even when he does seem to go a little too far, there is a genuine feeling that it is all just an act.

That said, this DVD is not of as high a standard as some of his previous releases. His performance here seemed somewhat laboured, as if he really doesn`t want to be so offensive anymore. Sure, the gags are there one after the other, but many of them don`t have the same bite as they used to. Perhaps I am shocked by nothing anymore!

Furthermore, those unfamiliar with previous DVDs/videos may be surprised to learn that the main feature only lasts for one hour, which I myself way too little for an RRP of £21.99.

If you are a fan of Chubby Brown, I`m sure that you wouldn`t mind receiving this in your Christmas stocking. If you are unsure, you should pursue some of his older titles first.