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Bruce Dessau's rating
Taking machismo to absurd extremes
By
Bruce Dessau
12 Mar 2008
Adam Buxton is a postmodern multi-tasker. He makes weird internet spoofs, is releasing podcasts of his audio exploits with chum Joe Cornish, played a hilariously mutilated reporter in Hot Fuzz and directed the video for Radiohead's Jigsaw Falling Into Place.
On stage he is Famous Guy, a turbo-charged parody of the ultimate Hollywood method actor, or in his words, "top pretending man". Famous Guy would be as heroically square-jawed as Ben Affleck if only one could see Buxton's jaw underneath a thicket of beard.
This flight-suited character takes machismo to absurd extremes, bellowing his catchphrase "I'm Attractive" whenever there is a lull. Last night was largely lull-free as he channelled the spirit of Robert De Niro to present excerpts from his CV, including Cockney Captain in They Crashed From Space There.
It never quite feels original but beautifully satirises umpteen genres. I liked his cameo as "Bob the Ballpoint in animated movie Pens", while his Ray Charles-ish Slappy Pappy must be the only biopic to feature a blues refrain inspired by overcooked broccoli.
Details are correct at the time of publication - please check with venue before booking.
