Zach Galifianakis: Live (2006)

In this, his Live at the Purple Onion performance on DVD, Zach Galifianakis plays the droll schlub whose comic genius is only matched (or in most cases exceeded) by his ineptitude. It's all part of his schtick -- from the two dozen "characters" (a word he mispronounces) he's "been working on for months" that go no deeper than one fun-sized punch line to his standup act's long pregnant pauses for self-recrimination ("I suck at this!") or a pull from another pint glass of beer. Often spouting his riffs while playing piano in a rambling but effective fashion, Zach succeeds in establishing a personal and communal intimacy with his audience because he is candid, self-aware, and relaxed. The laid-back, slackerish structure and production values of the DVD contribute to this sense of familiarity with and sympathy for the artiste -- and Zach's portrayal of his effete "twin brother" Seth is masterful. I bordered on belly chuckles during most of this hour-long performance and I felt entertained by the end -- however, the low-key, nonchalant pacing holds the humor to a low roar at 3.5 stars.