Documentary following stand-up comedian Roy 'Chubby' Brown as he tours England. The documentary investigates if he is as offensive as he has been labeled.Documentary following stand-up comedian Roy 'Chubby' Brown as he tours England. The documentary investigates if he is as offensive as he has been labeled.Documentary following stand-up comedian Roy 'Chubby' Brown as he tours England. The documentary investigates if he is as offensive as he has been labeled.
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- ConnectionsFeatures The League of Gentlemen: Death in Royston Vasey (2000)
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Comic Hero or sell out? Yapp's in-objectivity fails to let the audience decide
Roy "Chubby" Brown. The helmet-wearing, overweight, vulgarian of a man who fills the air with foul expletives and offensive jokes about race, sex and sexuality to an audience of thousands. Royston Vasey is a successful family man who came from the wrong side of the tracks and has made good with his life. These are the opposing sides of one person. But how closely related is the "Chubby" Brown personae to Roysten Vasey forms the basis of this intriguing documentary by filmmaker and writer, Will Yapp. Having only ever viewed one screening of Brown's live show's several years ago. I had come to the conclusion that I would never be a fan of his prehistoric, vile un-politically correct humour. Not that I find it offensive. Merely out-dated.
But that's hardly the point of this documentary which more or less examines Roysten Vasey. Aired on Channel 4 it followed him as he goes about his daily life and prepares for upcoming show's(mainly in his main stage haunt of Blackpool which includes a guest spot on "The Frank Skinner Show". His first mainstream television appearance in roughly twenty years. He's a man who admittedly has cashed in on his cult status and It's the fact that he's never entered the mainstream that has undeniably been a key to his lucrative career. Something that he speaks candidly about with film-maker Yapp. He even goes as far as confess to once being a clean "family" comic. Lowering himself to the lowest common denominator as it was the more surefire alternative to him making a name for himself. Whether this path made by Vasey Is condonable leave up to the minds of the individual viewing this expose. But love him or hate him, the chubby comic it seems isn't afraid to say that he Isn't ashamed of his chosen material.
Whether he's as racist as people think he is and that he's sold his soul to the devil is something that Yapp himself seems convinced to prove. It's hard not to understand why Vasey himself would wish for the "good" life that he now has. Having come from the poorer side of his northern roots where there were little opportunities to improve your financial/career situation. It's little wonder that as a young man, Roysten became something of a delinquent who eventually spent parts of his early life in and out of borstals and prisons. So It's no surprise that when Roy saw a way out of this spiralling decline that he welcomed it with open arms. But with a couple of failed marriages behind him it has come at some cost although he now still to this day enjoy's wedded bliss with his third, more youthful wife who he shares two children with. He seems to genuinely adore his attractive young spouse as well as his offspring who he regularly dotes upon. Contrary to the foul mouthed, perverted comedic personae that we largely associate with the man.
But contradictory to this we also see Vasey's darker, serious side. We see his explosive temper when he's out driving while accompanied by Yapp. Cursing at fellow drivers who rubs him up the wrong way in a fit of road rage. While he later shares his political views with Yapp while a close friend and associate enthusiastically agrees with him. Discussing points on immigration and asylum seekers. Contradictory to what may be seen as the "PC" alternative. He even discusses how a black woman's vagina compares to the image of a chocolate walnut whip. It's a comedic aside which although potentially offencive may not be as mean spirited as is intended. But which Yapp clearly exploits to further his own personal agenda. And while Yapp is entitled to his views he makes no secret of them and as a result his documentary loses some of the objectivity that any such piece should contain.
Taking whatever opportune moment to challenge Vasey's way of thinking and his politically incorrect work. It's fairly obvious that Yapp doesn't seem to credit his audience with the intelligence to form their own opinion on the man with the evidence at hand. Clearly attempting to manipulate the viewer whether it be when talking to his subject face-on or with carefully placed voiceovers. It's at the heart of this where Yapp chiefly fails and is perhaps a little unfair. Potentially trying to try and convict the man by thinking he can exploit the naivety of his audience Which can be perceived as condescending.
But where it also proves inferior is that the filmmaker never focuses enough on challenging the consequences of Vasey's stand-up act and how it seems to vindicate the opinions and attitudes of his core audience. Which I might add seem to be largely comprised of knuckle-dragging Neanderthals who think that black men and women swing in trees. Of course, this is an exaggeration but you get my point.
Has he sold out in a selfish effort to provide for himself and his family? The answer sadly could be yes and while I value his freedom to choose whatever material he deems fit to use. It does have a less-than-desirable effect on how some Brits view modern Britain and Its current diverse range of cultures. Vasey potentially could be doing some harm although in fairness it would more likely be a minority as opposed to the majority that his humour speaks to.
Summing up, Yapp manages to dispel some of the preconceptions you might have of the man and while it offers some interesting insights it doesn't quite succeed in Its task. We don't totally get a satisfactory conclusion as to really how racist he really is. More a glimmer of the man he might actually be but a man who Isn't quite as black and white as he may seem. Thr Result: Interesting but flawed.
But that's hardly the point of this documentary which more or less examines Roysten Vasey. Aired on Channel 4 it followed him as he goes about his daily life and prepares for upcoming show's(mainly in his main stage haunt of Blackpool which includes a guest spot on "The Frank Skinner Show". His first mainstream television appearance in roughly twenty years. He's a man who admittedly has cashed in on his cult status and It's the fact that he's never entered the mainstream that has undeniably been a key to his lucrative career. Something that he speaks candidly about with film-maker Yapp. He even goes as far as confess to once being a clean "family" comic. Lowering himself to the lowest common denominator as it was the more surefire alternative to him making a name for himself. Whether this path made by Vasey Is condonable leave up to the minds of the individual viewing this expose. But love him or hate him, the chubby comic it seems isn't afraid to say that he Isn't ashamed of his chosen material.
Whether he's as racist as people think he is and that he's sold his soul to the devil is something that Yapp himself seems convinced to prove. It's hard not to understand why Vasey himself would wish for the "good" life that he now has. Having come from the poorer side of his northern roots where there were little opportunities to improve your financial/career situation. It's little wonder that as a young man, Roysten became something of a delinquent who eventually spent parts of his early life in and out of borstals and prisons. So It's no surprise that when Roy saw a way out of this spiralling decline that he welcomed it with open arms. But with a couple of failed marriages behind him it has come at some cost although he now still to this day enjoy's wedded bliss with his third, more youthful wife who he shares two children with. He seems to genuinely adore his attractive young spouse as well as his offspring who he regularly dotes upon. Contrary to the foul mouthed, perverted comedic personae that we largely associate with the man.
But contradictory to this we also see Vasey's darker, serious side. We see his explosive temper when he's out driving while accompanied by Yapp. Cursing at fellow drivers who rubs him up the wrong way in a fit of road rage. While he later shares his political views with Yapp while a close friend and associate enthusiastically agrees with him. Discussing points on immigration and asylum seekers. Contradictory to what may be seen as the "PC" alternative. He even discusses how a black woman's vagina compares to the image of a chocolate walnut whip. It's a comedic aside which although potentially offencive may not be as mean spirited as is intended. But which Yapp clearly exploits to further his own personal agenda. And while Yapp is entitled to his views he makes no secret of them and as a result his documentary loses some of the objectivity that any such piece should contain.
Taking whatever opportune moment to challenge Vasey's way of thinking and his politically incorrect work. It's fairly obvious that Yapp doesn't seem to credit his audience with the intelligence to form their own opinion on the man with the evidence at hand. Clearly attempting to manipulate the viewer whether it be when talking to his subject face-on or with carefully placed voiceovers. It's at the heart of this where Yapp chiefly fails and is perhaps a little unfair. Potentially trying to try and convict the man by thinking he can exploit the naivety of his audience Which can be perceived as condescending.
But where it also proves inferior is that the filmmaker never focuses enough on challenging the consequences of Vasey's stand-up act and how it seems to vindicate the opinions and attitudes of his core audience. Which I might add seem to be largely comprised of knuckle-dragging Neanderthals who think that black men and women swing in trees. Of course, this is an exaggeration but you get my point.
Has he sold out in a selfish effort to provide for himself and his family? The answer sadly could be yes and while I value his freedom to choose whatever material he deems fit to use. It does have a less-than-desirable effect on how some Brits view modern Britain and Its current diverse range of cultures. Vasey potentially could be doing some harm although in fairness it would more likely be a minority as opposed to the majority that his humour speaks to.
Summing up, Yapp manages to dispel some of the preconceptions you might have of the man and while it offers some interesting insights it doesn't quite succeed in Its task. We don't totally get a satisfactory conclusion as to really how racist he really is. More a glimmer of the man he might actually be but a man who Isn't quite as black and white as he may seem. Thr Result: Interesting but flawed.
helpful•10
- The-Last-Prydonian
- Aug 27, 2009
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- Runtime50 minutes
- Color
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Top Gap
What was the official certification given to Roy Chubby Brown: Britain's Rudest Comedian (2007) in the United Kingdom?
Answer