Norm Macdonald: Hitler's Dog, Gossip & Trickery

Norm Macdonald: Hitler's Dog, Gossip & Trickery is a stand-up special with the long-lasting charm of its eponymous star, Norm Macdonald. Known for his extensive run on Saturday Night Live and his distinctive voice in comedy, Macdonald's stand-up special in 2017 on Netflix is a standout testament to his unique brand of humor. Often considered a comic's comic, Norm Macdonald delivers his signature dry wit in this remarkable performance. The comedy special's unique title, a reference to an inside joke within the program, aptly captures the intriguingly eccentric and controversial humor of Norm.

As a marquee fixture in the comedy landscape for many years, Macdonald’s brand of humor has titillated audiences since his days on SNL. His knack for weaving a long, winding comedic narrative is on full display in this special. The comic proves to be a master of timing and delivery as he parades a vast array of different jokes and anecdotes that only he could possibly make work. Delving into a wide range of topics from aging and death to the disinformation era, Norm makes everything a subject of laughter with his signature dry and sarcastic wit.

Norm Macdonald: Hitler's Dog, Gossip & Trickery is a refreshing departure from the more theatrical, high-energy stand-up routines that seem to dominate the genre these days. Instead, Macdonald, armed with his trademark casual wear and laid-back stage presence, chooses to amuse his audience with intricate storytelling interspersed with punchlines that often come out of nowhere.

To clarify, the title of the show has little to do with the overall content of the special. The reference to Hitler's dog mainly serves as a device to explore society's power to bend the truth and control narratives, a theme that Norm frequently explores throughout the special. His unique brand of humor often serves as a lens through which he analyses and criticizes social and cultural phenomena, with an emphasis on our perception of the truth.

The whole special unfolds in an intimate theater setting – a dim lit stage with Norm, a stool, a mic stand, and the skilled camera work capturing his every smirk and raised eyebrow. Every nuance, every comedic beat, every pause – it’s all deliberately crafted, providing audiences an hour-long peek into Macdonald's abstract mind.

Norm riffs on various aspects of everyday life, from the absurdity of auto-correct on phones to his self-deprecating take on aging and health. He also takes subject matters as heavy as religion, politics, and suicide, transforming them into comedic gold mines through his point of view. Admiring audience members laugh understandingly as they're led through his labyrinthine comedic approach, which seamlessly transition from lighter to heavier topics.

One thing to note about Norm Macdonald: Hitler's Dog, Gossip & Trickery is how it omits the shock value that most comedians rely on these days. Macdonald doesn’t need to drop f-bombs or push the envelope to a particular extreme to get laughs. Rather, his provocation is subtler, based on layering diverse elements of a narrative in an unexpected form, making the punchline all the more satisfying when it finally does hit.

To conclude, Norm Macdonald: Hitler's Dog, Gossip & Trickery is a solid stand-up special that showcases a legendary comic at his very best. His humor manages, as few can, to be both deeply embedded in the tradition of comedy, while also standing apart from the routines of most present-day comedians.

For fans of Macdonald's past work or even comedy lovers who are new to his delights, this special provides a generous dose of the comedian’s trademark deadpan style. It’s a roller coaster of hilarity from start to finish that will leave viewers crying with laughter. One thing's for sure - this special will find itself among the lists of must-watch comedy specials in recent years. Macdonald not only plays with the boundaries of comedy but also prompts us to think about the changing realm of social perception with his candid humor. Norm proves that he is still one of the most distinctive voices on the comedy stage and doesn't plan to leave anytime soon.