Mike Birbiglia: "My Girlfriend's Boyfriend"
I watched "My Girlfriend's Boyfriend" by Mike Birbiglia on Netflix for the second time. Bookending the show with a reference to a hit and run incident in which he was the victim, it's largely a story about Birbiglia and his relationship with his partner Jenny.
In this, he develops a thoughtful and intelligent spin on the differences between men and women, not least in terms of the attitudes of nightclub bouncers towards them. Birbiglia was clearly an awkward young man, relieving his distain for kissing, evocatively describing it as "like watching a dog eating spaghetti", laying the ground for an excellent callback. Despite "incurring debt based on my appearance" with a girl at a high school dance, he finally makes it out of what he describes as "The Non-Make Out Club" to the sound of "Stairway To Heaven" in a memorable routine..
Elsewhere, his discussion of a fairground ride called "The Scrambler" results in some great physical comedy, throwing himself round the stage to mimic its chaotic moments and mockingly talking through its creation. Jenny reveals to him that she still occasionally sees her old boyfriend, with Birbligia drawing a parallel with his high school days and his old girlfriend Amanda. This builds nicely into an absurd sequence where he meets the parents of his girlfriend's boyfriend.
He perfectly captures the exasperation of the situation. "I wish it was just you and me here" "You could make that happen". Throughout, the hugely likeable Birbiglia demonstrates a fine turn of phrase and a great deal of storytelling skill. He's so skilled in fact, that he finds a new and hilarious take on the well worn concept of suicide bombers receiving access to 72 virgins in paradise.
The ending is somewhat disappointing, based on a wrangle with the LAPD following the hit and run that concludes in a deeply implausible fashion. Nonetheless, it's a superbly crafted show that rewards the viewer for their attention. Watch it.
In this, he develops a thoughtful and intelligent spin on the differences between men and women, not least in terms of the attitudes of nightclub bouncers towards them. Birbiglia was clearly an awkward young man, relieving his distain for kissing, evocatively describing it as "like watching a dog eating spaghetti", laying the ground for an excellent callback. Despite "incurring debt based on my appearance" with a girl at a high school dance, he finally makes it out of what he describes as "The Non-Make Out Club" to the sound of "Stairway To Heaven" in a memorable routine..
Elsewhere, his discussion of a fairground ride called "The Scrambler" results in some great physical comedy, throwing himself round the stage to mimic its chaotic moments and mockingly talking through its creation. Jenny reveals to him that she still occasionally sees her old boyfriend, with Birbligia drawing a parallel with his high school days and his old girlfriend Amanda. This builds nicely into an absurd sequence where he meets the parents of his girlfriend's boyfriend.
He perfectly captures the exasperation of the situation. "I wish it was just you and me here" "You could make that happen". Throughout, the hugely likeable Birbiglia demonstrates a fine turn of phrase and a great deal of storytelling skill. He's so skilled in fact, that he finds a new and hilarious take on the well worn concept of suicide bombers receiving access to 72 virgins in paradise.
The ending is somewhat disappointing, based on a wrangle with the LAPD following the hit and run that concludes in a deeply implausible fashion. Nonetheless, it's a superbly crafted show that rewards the viewer for their attention. Watch it.
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