Notorious C.H.O. (2002)
"To me, it's just self-esteem and
social activism mixed with really good dick jokes."
- Margaret Cho
If you don't leave the theater with
a little wet spot in your crotch from laughing hysterically
at "Notorious C.H.O.," you should see a doctor, something
is obviously wrong with you.
It's not necessary to waste a lot
of time talking about how great this film is. It's
just hilarious. If you don't like Margaret Cho, you
are a notorious idiot. She's funny as hell. She is
awesome. If you don't know who Margaret Cho is, "Notorious
C.H.O." is as good a starting place as any to be indoctrinated
to her charms and talent.
"C.H.O." starts with a bit of a
warm up, much like Cho's last concert film, "I'm the
One That I Want," before the straight (no pun intended)
stand-up comedy concert film. Here Cho once again
features fans, concert-goers, and her parents in pre-concert
interview segments setting up the evening's comedy.
She is also interviewed herself. Wisely, this diversion
is only momentary before Cho takes the stage and commands
it for 90 minutes with some of the most hilarious,
raunchy and insightful comedy to be brought forth
since the days of Richard Pryor's concert films.
To understand just how funny and
topical and pleasing Cho is, one only has to hear
her first joke, a ribald yet totally appropriate joke
about rescue workers during the 9/11 tragedy. It is
almost impossible, as a comedian, to make a joke about
9/11. Cho makes it work perfectly. I won't spoil the
joke because it's too funny to ruin. But she perfectly
sets the stage for the 90 minute routine that is to
follow.
Cho is so wise to create these concert
films because she is not only an overwhelming presence,
and funny as hell, but her humor serves an audience
that will gladly pay theater prices to see her performance.
After seeing "I'm the One" and "C.H.O.," I now refuse
to miss seeing her perform live, whatever the price.
No price could be to high for the kind of hilarity
that Cho brings forth. She is a goddess.
And these films must cost very little.
Cho is already performing in front of a sell-out crowd
(this time in Seattle). She just sets up a few cameras
and plugs in the microphone and lets the film stock
capture the evening's performance. There's nothing
else, really, to be done. Director Lorene Machado
doesn't have to do much, that's for sure, just make
sure there is film in the cameras and make sure they
are turned on. Then there's a few editing choices
in post and, viola, a hilarious film.
Cho is so comfortable with herself
now (much of her comedy is about issues involving
weight and appearance) that she appears on stage in
a shirt that shows off her midriff paunch. She's a
bit chunky. But if you don't see what a truly beautiful
woman she is, you're simply not looking.
"Notorious C.H.O." is the funniest
film you will see this year. Gay, straight, bi, male,
female, black, white, Asian, other... it doesn't matter,
you'll laugh your ass off. There's a true comic genius
at play here. She's just cool enough to invite us
all to the party.
Note:
Music bookending the film performed
by Jariya.
The screening I saw was preceded
by a animated short made by Cho and her friends that
talked about Asian-Americans and African-Americans
getting along. In it, Cho does some voice work in
the style of her mother talking, playing an Asian
who owns a convenience store. The film is mildly amusing
but the animation is very simple and weak and the
script is only so- so.
