Very few comedians ever find the success of Aziz Ansari, let alone at such a young age. With multiple comedy specials and a prominent role as Tom Haverford on the award-winning “Parks and Recreation,” Ansari seems to have done everything right.
It is only natural, then, that he would continue his entertaining streak with “Buried Alive,” his newest comedy special. Though “Buried Alive” is a complete change in direction from his past works —which routinely focused on Randy, his alter ego; Harris, his little cousin; and his interactions with celebrities — it is no less hilarious or compelling.
Now, instead of listening to Ansari tell you hilarious anecdotes about his seemingly always comedic life, you’re listening to him explain modern society and how it deals with relationships — laughs are assured. Whether its because of his recent 30th birthday or just a recognition that his routine must evolve to continue his streak of success, Ansari seems to have developed a more mature — but equally hilarious — comedic mentality.
None of this, however, prevents Ansari from maintaining his same youthful energetic comedic style and light-hearted tone. It’s also possible Ansari was inspired by Louis CK’s success. Ansari knows better than a blatant attempt to imitate CK, but he understands the messages that CK is able to communicate through his comedy. To put it in simpler terms, “Buried Alive” is like Ansari talking about CK’s content.
Ultimately, “Buried Alive” is filled with guaranteed laughs. It’s Ansari’s best stand-up special to date and competes with CK’s “Oh My God” and Russell Peters’ “Notorious” for the best stand-up specials of the year.
The jokes never drag on for too long, a problem Ansari has struggled to overcome in the past. The couple of direct interactions with specific audience members, one focused on marriage proposals, the other on the sexting scandal which made Anthony Weiner rise to prominence, were believably real and elicited witty off-the-cuff responses by Ansari.
Parts of the special do turn political — and in doing so may turn off people not in line with his liberal leanings — but all in all, the special appeals to a wide range of audiences and promises to evoke more than an hour of laughter from all.
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