Assassin - Margaret Cho - DVD

A lot of people are being critical about Margaret "turning" political nowadays, which is ridiculous because all she does is speak about her life and her experience, and everyone is more political these days. If she has anything interesting to say about politics, than by all means she should include it in her act. That said, here's my review-

She is much more connected with the audience here than with Revolution, which I'm sure a lot of people will be happy with, even though I thought she was great before. Most of her new writing is 100% political in nature here, and scathingly funny. Gay marriage, the moron in the oval office, the flavor of Laura Bushes' coochie, the pope's decidedly homosexual lifestyle- are just a fraction of the perceptive and hilarious material seen in this film. You pretty much know what to expect, which is something creative and original.

I have been a solid, die hard fan of Margaet Cho since I first saw a stand up routine of her on Comedy Central several years back. Since then, I have listened to every major release she has produced and have not been disappointed with any of them. I have read many reviews of unsatisfied customers and most of them are similar in their roots. They believe that she's too over the top. I guess they have forgotten that in history; some of the most powerful female voices have been women whose work is loud, controversial, and looks taboo subjects right in the face. Margaret's work is very confessional in every aspect much like the work of the poet Anne Sexton whose work spanned subjects such as incest, masturbation, sexuality, and sexism. How about Sylvia Plath; whose work dealt with suicide, sexism, infedility, and depression. It is my opinion that people of this generation have forgotten that there is in fact a point behind pushing boundaries; something that Cho does endlessly in her work. Like she stated in Revolution, a previous routine, "The function of art is to comment on culture". Perhaps those who claim her as being too over the top are those who simply don't appreciate art and its function in society, and moreover, don't respect successful women who are not nice about it, something she says verbatim in The Assasin.

In the Assasin, Cho packs a hard punch aimed at the right wing. When the unemployment rate is rising to unprescedented levels, the deficit has done way more than skyrocket, and we are fighting a war which is beginning to resemble Vietnam; how can somebody not be pissed off at the President and the Republican Party who is chiefly in charge of this country for the time being? Margaret addresses the flaws in government and society ferociously in Assasin and, as she always does, works to empower the underdogs (minorities); women, gays and lesbians in particular. How can somnebody not like a comedian who says "You know Laura Bush's p**** tastes like Lysol". Maybe that's just me.

I had the pleasure of seeing Margaret Cho's latest stand up comedy tour, Assassin in Los Angeles a few months ago, and it's pleasing to know that this ferocious comedian has lost nothing of her irascible bite. Now out on DVD her concert is bound to have all her loyal viewers laughing until their sides ache, and her critics - particularly the radical right - outraged at her irreverence!

Outspokenly liberal, feminist, bisexual, and a fierce defender of gay rights, Cho appreciates and understands the importance of sexual innuendo, often using unapologetic profanity to make her point. A ferocious Republican baiter, she is fiercely outspoken in her attacks on the right, unadulteratingly defending gay marriage and the morning-after pill, but never sermonizing or coming across as intentionally nasty.

Cho knows how to use biting, raunchy, and incisive humor to her best advantage, and she makes the most out of her demure, little girl look. Her stage presence is relaxed and playful, and she knows how to really draw the audience into her show. Her facial expressions are absolutely priceless, and her comic timing, honed after decades of public performance, is impeccable.

Whether discussing the dreariness of England, she says "it's where white people begin the whitening process," or the Schwarzenegger governorship "we didn't get punk'd", her manner is always "hey-girlfriend chatty;" it's just like sitting in her lounge room. Expressive and imaginative, Cho can make most ordinary and banal situation seem humerous.

In this show, Cho launches with predictable attacks on Rush Limbaugh, Ann Coulter, and of course George and Laura Bush, and many of the jokes have a head-snapping cleverness. "Being gay is not outrageous," she declares, "and if you think it is, you're gay!"

The commedian is also a fierce advocate of free speech and she sees her minority status as an ultimate freedom to express what she wants. She basically says whatever is on her mind, no matter how irreverent or crude, and this sometimes involves a head-on collision between social relevance and unbridled honesty.

Cho gets away with every joke she attempts, reserving her most scathing criticism for the Bush first ladies, Laura and Barbara that few stand-ups would dare, let alone carry off - if only the women knew what she says about them, they'd probably be cringing in their shoes!

A Cho concert wouldn't be the same without her lambasting the hypocacy of current events: She wonders how abortion opponents can support the war in Iraq, where so many are losing their lives. She says Christians have no right to call themselves "Christian" when they show no compassion or charity towards gays and lesbians and their relationships.

Cho stands up for all the people, for she understands the power of humor and crudity to provoke thought, and also to liberate. She has something to say to everyone, and one can only hope that she is preaching to more than her choir of devoted fans. Mike Leonard September 05.

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