Mr. Michael speaks directly to the camera, sometimes pacing on a stage, at other times appearing in close-up, set against a black void, telling jokes followed by silence. Adding to the degree of difficulty, Mr. Michael’s comedy belongs to the tradition of Dave Chappelle and Louis C.K., making provocative, even reckless arguments while generally keeping you on his side. During 49 minutes onscreen, Mr. Michael defends contracting herpes as a life choice: “A lot of my friends got married. Unlike so many other comics who wallow in their wrongness, Mr. Michael isn’t looking just to create unease. Mr. Michael’s central subject is his own failure at romance.

Source: New York Times August 24, 2018 07:52 UTC