Eddie Griffin: You Can Tell 'Em I Said It

Eddie Griffin starts his comedy special “You Can Tell ‘Em I Said It” like a Fourth of July fireworks show. You’re mesmerized at first as the pretty lights suddenly appear, lighting up the sky but fading as quickly as they appeared. At first you don’t know what to expect from Griffin. He swaggers out on stage, lights up a cigarette and stares at the audience before exclaiming, “I wanna fuck Michelle Obama.” After this opening line, the awe is quickly lost.

Eddie Griffin, best known for his role on “Malcolm and Eddie,” is far from the world of sitcoms. While he does have a charisma about him and impeccable timing, you shut yourself off to the same old material. Although the apparent sexual appeal of our First Lady is new, Tiger Woods’ indiscretions and the age-old debate of the difference between the N-words is not.

While the majority of Griffin's material is recycled, there are a few diamonds among the rough, and by rough, I mean "constant stream of profanity." Griffin “colorfully” describes why the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) more accurately belongs to white people, why moms are eternally off limits to friends and the historical beginnings of the Bloods and Crips. Unfortunately, these diamonds didn't bring enough value to the table.

Comedy legends like George Carlin and Richard Pryor turned the use of profanity into an art form. It was a part of their act. People expected it when they watched them perform, and it worked for them. Such is not the case for Mr. Griffin. By the 30th N-word (where I lost count), the viewer may become bored or offended by his word choices. If you are a fan of Eddie Griffin, beware becoming disenchanted.

The special features are limited to only a backstage pass, but its 27-minute run time is quite enjoyable. You get an exclusive look into what goes into the preparation of a comedy special and a more intimate look at Eddie Griffin. While still foul-mouthed, Eddie is much more laid back and down to earth. It was a much different view of the performer compared to the actual performance.

Film: 2 Yaps Extras: 2.5 Yaps