One thing that can be slightly annoying to those who view things with an open mind and can set emotion and feelings aside, is the way critics review comedy shows. Whether it’s Dave Chappelle, Louis C.K. or even Anthony Jeselnik (who today epitomizes the word ‘offensive’), critics of today hold comedians to a very abnormal standard. Some will say things like “those jokes are dated” “you can’t joke about that anymore” or the famous and most common “that’s offensive”. Rob Schneider is no stranger to this, and he is also not immune to it in the present day as just last year he launched a new Netflix special Asian Momma, Mexican Kids.
Rob Schneider is no stranger to this, and he is also not immune to it in the present day as just last year he launched a new Netflix special Asian Momma Mexican Kids.
As Rob will make known at the beginning of the show, his wife in fact is not Mexican, and yet whenever he takes time to mimic her for the audience he decides to do so with his version of a Mexican accent. Why? Probably because he thought it was funny, and it would appear that the audience agreed. Yes, Rob Schneider is known for playing multiple different characters of multiple different ethnicities in the past. Was it offensive? To some, probably. Was it funny? It’s the same answer. Which is basically what viewers can expect from his new Netflix special. Rob Schneider has made his fame and living off of playing stereotypical characters, ridiculous accents, and over the top characterizations at the expense of others. So in his mind it seems, ‘if it’s not broke don’t fix it’.
Some of his highlights include shedding light on his own personal heritage, as well as a short duet with a surprise guest that many should know by now. At fifty-six and on his third marriage viewers can expect to hear about his experiences in his family life, his take on current events, and the classic comedy he’s known for in his films and SNL appearances that some people feel is more or less outdated. It’s interesting that others should take this view, but not surprising. The world is constantly in a state of progression and entering into new territories of heightened sensitivity. Which is fine, but it should not be forgotten, that this is comedy.
Many will find Rob Schneider’s new special to be funny. Some will find it REALLY funny. Others will not find it funny, and even many others will find it offensive. However, ‘offensive’ doesn’t mean ‘not funny’. So for those up the latter, it should be understood that no one person or group of people gets to decide “hey, that’s not funny”. Comedy is subjective, and no one has a patent on ‘funny’. As it stands, readers shouldn’t be swayed on how to think or what to perceive as comical. Rob Schneider is still a comic veteran in his own right, and even if he’s still basically doing what he’s always done, that should not for any reason mean that it isn’t funny. So, is it? Most audiences are thinking so, but critics, well, that’s a very different story.
