Just for Laughs Review – Tom Green at Théâtre Sainte-Catherine, July 22, 2016

Tom Green
Théâtre Sainte-Catherine
July 22, 2105

I had no idea what to expect from Tom Green, who is known more for his rhyming skills and roles in comedies like Road Trip and Freddy Got Fingered than for traditional stand-up.

Opening with his new music video for “Do the Donald,” an amusing if unremarkable hip hop take-down of Donald Trump and his trashy supporters, Green took the stage for a schizophrenic set that highlighted both his strengths and weaknesses as a comic.

The best bits of his set centered on his journey from an Ottawa skateboarder to a Hollywood celebrity, who was (very briefly) married to Drew Barrymore. Green’s backstory is interesting enough that his occasional digressions into (literal) toilet-humour seemed sophomoric in comparison. Throughout the set he treated his celebrity and current status with an amused nonchalance, that often paid off with a great punchline. “I was on the cover of Rolling Stone, and now I do a podcast. So things are going fine.”

Ending his hour with a barrage of lines from the cult-favourite Freddy Got Fingered, Green capped off a scattershot set that was nonetheless peppered with some great moments. A little pruning would go a long way.

Tom Green performs July 25-30 at the Mainline Theatre (3997 Boulevard Saint-Laurent). Tickets are #20.87, available at hahaha.com.