When Christopher Titus' marriage of 20 years finally ended, he couldn't help but think about what makes people stay in crazy, unhealthy relationships, and it is those thoughts and musings that make up Love is Evol. His hour and a half stand-up will touch on everything from how much we put up with in a relationship, but if the clerk gets one thing wrong at Starbucks, we are through with them, to being in a crazy relationship will make you crazy. But throughout the whole show, he makes references to a little voice in every one of our heads called "Our Inner Retard." This is the voice that speaks up when you are about to leave, suggesting that the crazy person in front of you might be the best you can do. Or the voice that speaks up when you are with someone really good and suggests it won't last because you aren't good enough.
This recurring character is accompanied by a funny voice and twisted face that Titus puts on for the audience, and it's one of those things that you probably shouldn't laugh at, but can't help because of the observations this character points out combined with Titus' generally solid timing.
Titus touches on "the last fight" in every bad relationship. The one that has you going to Home Depot afterwards looking for Spackle and new bathroom doors. When talking about this, Titus brings up the fight he had with his ex-wife. It involved everything from knives to punching the temples (all her, of course ... then again, this is his version of the story). But he says the worst part of the divorce is always the kids. Namely, the kids having their own attorneys. Which, he states, is a power a six-year-old shouldn't have.
About halfway through the show, the act takes a bit of a twist though. It seems Titus has a new woman in his life, and she is everything he has always wanted, but never got, mostly sanity, of course. Here he shifts gears to talk about being out of the dating scene for 20 years and the problems that come with that, as well as having to deal with her good, supportive, caring and wonderful family (which is also a foriegn concept to him). While both halves of the show have very different feels, they are both laugh-out-loud funny and I found the overall performance to be one of the best I've seen in a while.
The DVD isn't without special features (though oddly enough, no scene selections). One feature is a bit of behind-the-scenes footage from the photo shoot used to promote the show, while another interviews the people going to the show about their various bad relationship experiences (worst breakups, fights and Valentine's gifts). The last special is a series of commercials aired throughout the beginning of February to give hints and tips to guys as they plan for Valentine's Day. All amusing, but nothing really special.
Love is Evol is great because Titus' departure from his usual inspiration makes it more accessible to people who don't like his normal shtick, but there is enough references to his own family to keep existing fans of the comedian happy. Even though the subject matter is different, Titus' own personal flair and style comes through loud and clear. I found my self laughing a whole lot with this DVD, and fans of stand-up should definitely check out Titus' newest performance. And, if you read this review in time, you can check out Love is Evol on Comedy Central as it is scheduled to air on Valentine's Day 2009.
