“You spelled evil wrong, idiot!”When it comes to DVDs, it's safe to say that stand-up performances form an important cross section of my collection. From classic mainstays like George Carlin and Robin Williams to more recent acts like Jim Gaffigan the bases are pretty well covered. Still, I don't think any catalog is complete without Christopher Titus hopping from personal experience to personal experience pointing out how strained our lives have become within the never-ending vacuum known as society.
In his third outing, Chris quickly amends the insanity that made Norman Rockwell Is Bleeding and The 5th Annual End Of The World Tour successful with his various tales of marital discord. Whereas the aforementioned shows focused on a variety of topics while using a dedicated cast of "players," Love is Evol is a little more focused in its pursuits. It goes without saying that divorce and the situations surrounding it are often ugly, but it's a joy to see it tackled as it is here, where it is knocked to the ground and righteously smothered with a pillow.
The real treat is this experience fails to get heavy handed. While one can't say these moments are an outright flaw of Titus' shows, it is awkward how these segments of personal evaluation stop a routine on a dime despite their noble intention. Love is Evol also makes a small gain that's in direct correlation to the faults in the recently released Neverlution! Again, I can't say what is exactly to blame for the perceived hesitation in that special but is helps bolster this show against its slightly superior predecessors.
CONCLUSION:
As odd as it may sound given this is a review for the DVD, the real question that surrounds Love is Evol is whether to opt for the DVD or the audio recording. While Chris has a much better stage presence than someone like Jim Gaffigan (who is so stoic throughout his performances it isn't even funny) I have to suggest the audio recording. In general, the more portable you can make Titus the better although there are obvious exceptions - Norman Rockwell Is Bleeding greatly benefits from its video even though the audio is good on its own. Regardless of which path you choose, Love is Evol is more than capable of holding its own if you’re willing to listen.
Overall Score: 8/10
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