John Mulaney: The Comeback Kid (2015 TV Special) User Reviews

never gets old

[ellagilbert-23101 · 9/10 · 17 March 2021]

I've seen this at least 5 times. John Mulaney's delivery is genius. I really think you can see this echoed in a lot of skits online nowadays- the way he frames his jokes and his intonation have spread into mainstream comedy. He can spin a very mundane topic into cry laughter. In particular, his commentary on the Catholic Church is very funny- he knows how to poke fun at his own upbringing and personality in a way that doesn't come off as attention seeking.

Mister Funny Suit

[NikkoFranco · 7/10 · 20 May 2018]

John Mulaney's special is worth the watch. He engages the audience and himself. Humor comes in all forms and style and he doesn't come short of it. As a viewer there are times you are reminded of uncles who are in their Sunday best suits and the next second he brings himself and the audience back to the ground with his bumbling about his humble beginnings and musings. Sometimes his tone sounds a bit of a ventriloquist's puppet , he being the oversized puppet and sometimes he just really lets it show, that he is just a kid at heart.

Master class in structure

[lotekguy-1 · 9/10 · 29 June 2022]

Many comics, like a Steven Wright or Mitch Hedberg, thrive on sets of one-liners. Others, like a Mike Birbiglia or Patton Oswalt, are storytellers. They tend to build to a climax, often inserting callbacks to earlier jokes for continuity. That creates more of a connection between the audience and the experience.

In this case, Mulaney sprinkles tidbits about his parents - especially his father - throughout a mostly biographical routine. All of those insights come together in his final anecdote about meeting Bill Clinton, maximizing its payoff. Superbly structured.

I wish I could forget the jokes so I could enjoy it like the first time

[meryetc · 10/10 · 27 May 2020]

I watch this monologue at least once every month and I still laugh. *chef kiss* 10/10

One of the Best Stand Ups

[jane_hill-20569 · 10/10 · 4 November 2020]

Love stand-up, but usually prefer an edgier type (Bill Burr, Lenny Bruce, Doug Stanhope) but this is one of the funniest specials I have seen. The Bill Clinton bit was hilarious. Every joke just hit, especially about being raised. "My Dad loved us, he just didn't care about our happiness or self-esteem"...I don't know if it was because I related to so much, but my sides hurt this was so good. Definitely a 10/10.

Good for him

[jeritabiliran · 10/10 · 18 February 2021]

I never really realized that part of why the special was named 'The Comeback Kid' is because of what happened to his sitcom. John Mulaney proved that one career setback does not define him as a person and this comedy special serves as the proof of it. His jokes are absolutely brilliant and his delivery is entertaining as always.

Another Hit!

[thekarmicnomad · 10/10 · 8 September 2023]

I had already seen Kid (I think I watched them out of order) so my expectations were high.

I loved this just as much as his other show.

Again, the jokes translate across to a U. K audience and they were funny and clever.

John is not afraid to make fun of himself (very important for a British audience) and there is a great warmth about him.

He is a great performer using his physicality and voice to his advantage without becoming a clown.

A lot of the jokes are based on his family and are about quite mundane situations - like his dad buying a drink.

But he injects so much life and passion into them you can't help but get caught up.

Some U. S comics are too loud and brash for the UK - John hits the sweet spot for me.

"It's fun to be married. I've never been supervised before."

[classicsoncall · 7/10 · 31 August 2021]

I don't know John Mulaney from any of his other work, but I'm doing a little homework before seeing him in person at a comedy venue in about a month. This special comes from the Chicago Theatre in 2015, with Mulaney's routine delving into such topics as growing up Catholic and being an altar boy, recently getting married and not having kids, smoking weed, and crazy people in general. This one seemed to have slightly more profanity than his 2012 show called 'New Kid in Town', but that didn't seem to be his primary focus as opposed to a lot of other comics who drop a four letter word into almost every sentence. Mulaney closed his routine with a funny story about meeting Bill Clinton as a child; the hook there being that the former president had college classes with the comedian's mother. It could have been totally risque, but Mulaney managed to keep it above board.

Worth multiple watches

[fischer_patrick · 9/10 · 1 June 2023]

Comedian and Saturday Night Live alum John Mulaney's delivers again with his second Netflix Special. It is a rock solid ride for any stand up comedy fan. John's hilarious takes include stories about his dog, his wife, meeting Bill Clinton, and his Dad's beef with Bill Clinton. His style is very much an preppy young man who speaks fast and fits in as many jokes as possible per minute. He doesn't really tell jokes, he tells stories with his own hilarious takes on them. The pace is fast and and nonstop. This special is fantastic and flies by. It's worth watching multiple times. His delivery and stage presence are terrific.

Surprisingly I found this not funny at all.

[nubet · 3/10 · 9 May 2020]

I'm generally a fan of Mulaney but most of the jokes just werent landing for me, simple as that. Slightly forced, not very funny jokes. Just my opinion!

Not funny, didn't laugh.

[noahgibbobaker · 5/10 · 25 February 2021]

I don't really get the appeal of John Mulaney. Physically and comedically. I found this special unspecial. I laughed once.

My lonesome laugh was at the real estate bit. I love the way he says "aren't" And I think the back to the future bit was genuinely terrible.