Summary
Mo’Nique is back and better than ever with a brilliant special.
Mo’Nique’s career has ranged from winning an Academy Award to performing stand-up comedy for over 20 years. Mo’Nique: My Name is Mo’Nique is her seventh stand-up special, but her first for Netflix and first since 2016. Can she recapture that magic?
Mo’Nique: My Name is Mo’Nique Review
The special begins with Mo’Nique walking backstage to head to the stage with us hearing voices over the top going back and forth with a woman saying, “Mo’Nique is a legend,” and the other saying, “She burned too many bridges and her career is over.”
Before hitting the stage, we hear Mo’Nique say, “Thanks for the encouragement,” and we see her soak in the crowd who are chanting her name.
Mo’Nique opens her special with a bit about being in special education when she grew up. She details how she didn’t think she belonged in the class, because one day, she saw a kid eating glue and was very confused.
READ: Best Stand Up Comedy on Netflix in 2023
However, she continues the bit about how it was her mom’s fault for being illiterate. It takes some serious guts to get on the stage to call your mother out like this, but this opening was brilliant.
My favorite bit of the special was her marijuana story which had me in tears laughing.
The best thing about this entire special was seeing Mo’Nique lay it all out on the stage.
You could see the passion, pride, and want to be the best she could be on the stage that night. Of course, with all the controversy that surrounded her for years with the lawsuit with Netflix and all the stuff that came with that, she walked on that stage with a chip on her shoulder and walked out like a boss knowing she just killed it.
Is Mo’Nique: My Name is Mo’Nique Good or Bad?
Very good. Mo’Nique is someone who commands your attention with her larger-than-life presence on the stage.
So if you are a fan of someone that is going to shoot it straight, tell funny jokes, and never ride the line of anything other than doing her job, watch this special without question.
Is Mo’Nique: My Name is Mo’Nique worth watching?
Overall, My Name is Mo’Nique is further proof that Mo’Nique cemented herself as one of the queens of comedy with a knockout special for the ages. She came in with something to prove and walked out, reminding us she hadn’t lost a single step.
Her storytelling, attention to minor details, and punch lines will make you laugh for the entire special.
What did you think of the Netflix stand-up comedy special Mo’Nique: My Name is Mo’Nique? Comment below.
It wasn’t funny. She needed to speak her truth.. which she did. But definitely not funny. I watched hoping she would be funny. Even what she tried to still want funny. A documentary. Her comedy was in those def comedy days.
Overall it wasn’t really funny. Perhaps her content would have been more suited for a documentary . That would’ve been a better deal. Comedy should entertain and make you laugh, not justify and try and prove a point. The excessive use of the N – word was exhausting. Overall Monique is talented, but maybe she should take a break from stand up Comedy and focus on acting. She looked great.
Should have been a documentary. Not funny. Outdated
Her cursing was exhaustive and unnecessary. She was not funny and the attempt was a failure. No thanks ma’am.
This was more of a testimonial than a comedy special. She remained raw. She looked stunning. She was unapologetically honest. It just wasn’t funny- which is what the argument was about to begin with. She’s larger than life, but Sommore’s skit was 5x better.
It was great. I thought she was hilarious and she stayed true to who she was!! In this new more sensitive decade a lot of comedians have watered down their material as not to offend. Monique managed to keep her shock value without being offensive. Her delivery was great and it made excited for what else she’s gonna bring us in in her new era. She’s living her whole truth now and she is glowing. All hail THE reigning Queen of Comedy.
I loved it she wash raw and reall with a hint of actress to spice it up.
It was horrible honestly most of it was cringe Monique is brilliant but there was no art in comedy in her special it got too dark wayy too personal all that wasn’t necessary she failed to be a comic it was more of a testimony more than it was COMEDY
We tuned in for a therapy session when we wanted a comedy show. She fought sued and argued for the special AND it didn’t land. She owes me money for watching it and peeling layers like an onion and she was the only one crying.
Didnt find it funny. The cursing was unladylike and just over abused. The stories did not seem authentic and the way she talked about the “special community” was distasteful. She looked beautiful but after all her gripe with Netflix she should have killed it. She wasted our time and their money for an hour of BS.
I enjoyed it!!!!
Saw Monique this past weekend her comedy show wasn’t even funny it was very tasteless
Vulgar language and seriously she was angry at the world ended up leaving early. Never again will I go see her. I could see the demons in her.
The special was good better than good it was great it’s called laugh at My pain this is what I made it through everything that was talked about can’t be changed when you can accept it and you have lived it then you can laugh at it and she invited us to laugh with her. I laughed.
Wasn’t funny at all.
I thought it was funny,sad,shocking,honest. People have their own opinions but I feel a lots of comedians these days can fall off and not be funny. Some of the biggest comedians right now are not FUNNY to me but Monique did her thing. What do you expect fir someone who has been through all of te drama in the last few years it was expected that she get personal. Wow some of y’all really didn’t understand it. Comedians almost always joke about what happens in real life so yes some off the jokes were so personal it may have missed the mark for a laugh but it was her TRUTH!! I think she did Great!!!!
I was happy to see Monique. She looked absolutely fantastic. I appreciated her telling her truth, her story or her life, but she was not FUNNY. Not funny at all. I guess I didn’t expect a sassy mouthed story about her, but rather a comical laugh about her come back, etc. I was low key glad when it was over.
She was so funny. What a story Teller.
Not funny, Pretty disappointing. The use of the f and n word took up most of the dialogue. I watched about half of it and turned it off. She looked stunning, but what a waste of time.
Watching it now, have not laughed yet. Sorry
Monique just wasn’t funny at all. You are supposed to laugh at a comedy show not cry and feel bad! She standing up there cursing way too much and crying. I agree that commentary would be much better received as a documentary. Even the audience wasn’t laughing! I was very disappointed. I think Monique should still to acting….because she isn’t a Chris Rock or Earthquake for that matter! Out of 10 stars??? I give her a 3!
Sorry for the pain this talented actress experienced in her life. Hoping brighter days for her. Starring in movies dicpiting historical truths about strong Black. accomplished women would be more suitable. True historical films about Black History is needed. Thinking this would be a better fix for someone so talented. If others can see better for this woman they gave us so much joy on The Parkers, we should wish her a great future for her. We should all Examine self and come out stronger.
I laughed. I thought the content was brilliant. Mo’nique took you on a journey, expressing herself in a way that the new and old generations can relate to. All her business was clearly out in the media and this special gives you an inside look at why her reaction was her reaction. The content was hilarious, original, and empowering. I wasn’t expecting to see the the Queens of Comedy Mo’nique. I seen “My name is, Mo’nique!”
I love comedy, been listening to comedy since I found my dad’s old Richard Pryor tapes when I was a kid. I also, love Monique,,, but in “my opinion” I simply didn’t find it funny at all. I stopped watching it about 1/2 way through one night, then tried again the next night to watch it,,,,,,,,,, I simply couldn’t find the humor,,,,,,, and I really really wanted to.
She probably won’t get a second special. Too much unnecessary cussing, and use of the “N” word.
She may as well have read her life story to us. Also, I don’t need to know about her poor hygiene. And how she blamed it on where she grew up.
The bit about the d*** exploding fell flatout. I was almost embarrassed for her, and definitely for the people paid for a ticket.
What the hell was that. An hour I can’t get back!!!
There were funny parts but this should have been her book, not a stand up show. But I love her and will always supply her. Thank you for your truth!!! Stick to acting….thats your strong suit!
Oh damn… what do I say…”My Name is Monique” feels more like an impromptu one woman show than an actual comedy special.
How do I put this into words… Have you ever been on a bus and witnessed an unreal display of a homeless person or street character regailing an entire busload of strangers with their life story? After a while, the initial amusement wears off and you’re seriously contemplating getting off the bus 9 stops before you even reach your destination, simply for the preservation of your understanding of mental health amongst black people and humanity in general.
Yeah… comedy shows are suppose to make you laugh. Feel and relate- even to a life experience not exactly your own. Not trigger a memory where you saw a person trying to convince a bunch of strangers her very disturbing, unresolved life trauma is a hilariously beautiful badge of honor she proudly wears for the world to see.
So all the bizarre behavior Mo’Nique displays is wrapped up in this “well now ya know” hood Ted Talk masquerading as a comedy special.
It didn’t make me laugh. Honestly it made me wonder why we don’t want more for or ask for more from Mo’Nique. Every third word was the N word or straight up profanity. It was distracting and weak storytelling… again reminiscent of that person on the bus having an episode and taking us all for a truly uncomfortable ride.
To be sure, it doesn’t make sense to wish failure on a complete stranger or predict a miss. I watched “My Name is Mo’Nique” because I believe everyone deserves to rebound and defy the odds. And who doesn’t want to laugh? This was so… so strange.
Here’s the good news: Mo’Nique made a special and her supporters can rejoice.
The bad news: I feel like Netflix was validated in their initial, low ball assessment of her comedy special. Certainly she was given the platform and payout to boot. And Netflix made a mint off the partnership. But Netflix knew exactly what they were doing by signing on with Mo’Nique. She draws eyes to the platform… and sadly if you promote it well enough, so would a trainwreck.
I look to comedy for that universal glimmer of “we fall down but we get up” energy. The delivery style Mo’Nique relies on is antiquated and embarrassing. Clearly Mo’Nique has the ability to captivate an audience. But, at this point, I feel Mo’Nique has a very specific audience she’s speaking to. It’s a strange, emotionally crippled audience that romanticizes abuse and hardship in such an ghoulish way, a person who doesn’t walk in Mo’Nique’s exact shoes can’t see the triumph of overcoming those very toxic circumstances.
Mo’Nique talks a lot but,at its core, she’s not saying anything. Its a raw presentation of trauma, shrieked for 60 minutes. She surely builds herself up… a lot. What comedian doesn’t. But to do this, good commedians know your material needs to be coherent and funny. I tried…watched the special and walked away sad.
After all this time she should have been funny. Damn Mo’Nique. Just damn.
It was horrible!!! every other word with profanity, the N-word, the MF word it was not funny at all. I couldn’t even watch it, and it started like I cut it off. I was very embarrassed. She finally got a shot and she blew it.
I tried to watch it but it was too much cussing for me not to mention continually taking the Lord’s name in vain.
It was not her best and I have always been a huge fan love her dress and love monique but I did not enjoy the Netflix special too much profanity and the story line topic sucked but love her acting in the movie the Reading and love her on tv show BMF aka Goldie I am still a huge fan but she should have had a better story line and Less profanity then didn’t like how she said after a long day work being away from home first when she gets in the house she goes find her husband wtf go find your children first not no man smh did not like that my kids is the first ones I want to see after being away from home all day then k go see my man
I too cheer on the rebound of 2nd chances! But this comedy special made me wonder what was I viewing. A lotta of personsl narrating but NO humor. I was confused why Monique was sharing so much personal trauma during a comedy show. Too many inappropriate details shared. Cringing and shrieking was not a fond/funny experience at all. Get what you need to HEAL, Monique and try it again next time.
It was not funny at all she is corney and tell to many long stories when she performs she cusses to much I see why Netflix did not want her she needs to give up on stand up NOT FUNNY AT ALL
Loved it and her.Chris Rock can say anything and all is well. And So It Is.
Bold, Confident, Brass, Raw AND…Too Much MFERS And “N” Words. Dressed Sharp…But, Cursed Like…WOW!!! ALL The ‘Potty Mouth’ Words Were Too Distracting, Shameful-Feeling, And Hurt My Ears And Soul. Mostly, NOT Funny. I Saw Some Audience Laughing…Or Maybe Laughing At Her -Eh. She Didn’t Laugh…Nor Did I. We Didn’t Need To Know About Her Sexual Preferences (Precious’s Mom) All Over Again…TMI…IJS. Comedy Should Be Comedy. This Was NOT Comedy!!! Glad I Could Watch It Free Of Charge On Netflix. I Would NOT Pay To Go See Her…In Stand Up Comedy. She’s So Much Better…Than She Thinks She Is. Acting Is Her ‘Special Education’s Strong Suit. Hope She Gets To Do It Some Time In Her Near Future. Wishing Her Better Times Going Forward!
Unfortunately this whatever special was a waste of time. I don’t have patience with anyone trash mouthing her life and experiences. Annoying, just not comedic and a load of meaningless content and bitterness. Forget about wasting an hour on this disappointing poorly conceived and very unfunny special. I turned it off — the extensive use of foul language was unnecessary. Forget about it.
I soooo wanted this to be a solid comeback, a boss babe moment but…..it wasn’t. It wasn’t funny and hard to sit through. I have a bad mouth…. i say all the bad words, many times a day and THIS was way too much for even me. It was very over the top and distracting. I’m going to watch it again just to get a total of how many times she drops the F-bomb and the N word. So disappointing, distracting and devastating.
Disappointed. Not funny. Too much cursing versus using smart comedy like Sinbad who is hilarious.
I am watching this for the second time. This is absolutely hilarious. Anyone with anything negative to say must be either getting paid by her haters. Or are entirely desensitized with a significant lack of a sense of humor. Comedy always has cursing and offensive language. Can’t take or understand a joke? Then leave. This special was so good. I love Monique from the jump of her career. I remember the parkers and all her movies growing up. The special ed intro is too good. She is open, vulnerable, and not insecure. She is proud of all she has been through to get here. She is an inspiration!
It was horrible. I could continue watching it. After 4 minutes I cut it off. I have never heard the N word used that many times in a 4 minute time span. It was over the top with the language. Just unnecessary. Total disappointment. Now I see why Netflix didn’t wanna give her one. I saw her in person some years back and she was horrible then too. We never got to laugh, because she was having what felt like a therapy session. We paid our money to hear her tell jokes and it was far from it.
I see this special is no different.
I wanted to laugh, and I did once, that was it. It wasn’t a comedy special. She got some things off her chest, but she can be better than that.
This is not gonna make up for her Bad unlady-like behavior in the past !!! period.. (“If anything it makes it Worse “)
Not funny at all, I was embarrassed for her several people in the audience weren’t laughing, she crashed and burned right in front of our eyes, …she should pay me for watching this catastrophe ??
Weak weak weak. Corny and boring. Watched 2 mins
Was disappointed with the special…don’t like the church bashing she needs what the church promotes…healing…so much more could have been said about life issues politics…healing is needed and open marriage does not work
Funny as hell. Her best work. If you are sensitive, don’t watch.
I F*****g love Monique for her show on Netflix….i did dat baby n i still 2 dis day watch da parkers…..ayyee!!! u da best and always will be!! I love u 4eva!! I love u 4 pouring ya heart out…it means alot!!! I will always admire u 4 being strong enuf n gettin thru wat u went thru…..I love u 4 dat!! Strong black women!! I love u! ??
F**k all you negative broke goes, she did what needed to be done, take your ass to sleep bitch, she that one and will always be. Gn
I am proud of Mo’nique. She spoke the truth and that takes big balls. She laid it all out for the world to see and got respect from me. When the world beats you down get up and keep walking you never know what tomorrow will be. She is good, she is kind and she is loved.
If I’m paying for comedy I want it to be funny. Far too serious about her life etc. Who cares about her sexual preference it took away from the funny. I was disappointed.
I was happy to see Monique back on the stage. I did laugh a lot…but the language was extreme. Overall most of it was funny!
I thought I was a prude or insensitive. But, seeing other people’s comments who watched it also. I see I’m not. Her stand up wasn’t funny one bit. I’m no saint. But all that cursing was toooo much!!! Using the N word and Mutha%$#@ like it was going outta style.
I watched for about 15 minutes. After, that I just couldn’t take it anymore and I just turned it off. I laughed a little maybe once or twice. She looked fabulous tho. Unfortunately, her show wasn’t.
We tried to watch it twice. We could only take about 15 to 20 minutes worth. I can have a potty mouth but she out MF’d me. Nice to tell your story but add in some humor to a comedy special.
Was rooting for her, but report card all f,s
Very disappointing! She was not entertaining…I like and support her but this was embarrassing for her.
I wanted so much to be wowed and I was not. I found the special disappointing. As many people have said this was information would make a great book or documentary. I am glad she fought to get better pay from NETFLIX because she was right to fight for it, but her performance was not funny or even entertaining to me. Monique is good actress and her performances in non-stereotypical roles are awesome. I understand her beef with Oprah and Tyler and hope that one day she will let it go so she can move on and be happy and free from that burden.
not funny , very difficult to watch. Her earlier routines were much better.
Monique is a Comedy Queen and has never loved better. She looks amazing! She walks out on that stage with her MFn head high and proud and she owned that stage and entertained that crowd like the “Boss” that she is! And for her to come out as Bi took more courage than more people will ever understand. I have more respect for her than ever!
The only funny line came from her husband telling her to bring a woman home so he could do her too. Sorry
Awful, just awful! That was not a comedy special. All she did was prove why Netflix and no other cable or streaming service pays her $Ms for her comedy. She’s NOT funny and clearly has no idea how to write a comedy set. She continues to recycle the same material only now infused with personal drama and grievances/grudges against more successful people. And she cusses, a lot, because she’s got very little actual comedy material to present.
MY NAME IS MO’ NIQUE, NOW ON NETFLIX, is for better or for worse, exactly the special her character in “precious” the film would have delivered, right down to the ‘fly’ locks, gown, platform shoes, and command of an entire stage and adoring hometown audience. She demonstrates a masterful actor’s craft because sadly, her first person historical narrative IS PRECIOUS AND OR HER MOTHER’S STORY. For the belly laughs I craved, i will need to search elsewhere- there is simply still too much raw pain and hurt to let an ugly cry followed by hysterical belly laughing to break through. I look forward to her next televised performance.
It was awesome I loved it a lot.
People need to stop bad mouthing her and give her her flowers . ASAP she did great.
Besides she doesn’t like powerful people intimidate her . Oprah,Tyler Perry just to name a couple.
She doesn’t seem hard to deal with it’s just she doesn’t let people run over her. PERIOD.
Loved it! After watching I gain a greater appreciation for her. Yes, it was more than a comedy special it was what she had to do STAND in her truth. Which she shared with the world (that takes a great amount of courage).
Too preachy. Cursed too much.
For all you guys that claim to ‘love it so much’ you need to stop telling those who hated it, were repulsed by it, very disappointed, or just all out turned off and disgusted by it, to say great things about it. Monique CAN BE, funny, which requires, timing and relevant content universal to you and the audience. Sadly, I found myself quickly alienated by just about everything that spewed out of her mouth. I could swear she signed a deal with Satan to do this special. From all of the unnecessary, unwarranted, distasteful, N’s and MFs, and the entire excessive use of profanity is used as a crutch for comedians whose jokes aren’t worth anything and executed poorly. The ridiculous inclusion of taunting, poking fun, and distasteful, should be a ‘cancel Monique issue’, of the disabled and special education students. Remember, everyone, she stated they put her in the wrong class because of the illiteracy of her mother, not because she required special education, so she wasn’t speaking as one of them, she was speaking as one NOT of them and laughing at them while she was in class, all the while, trying to spin it as she was their champion. UTTER GARBAGE and like she likes to say, SOMEONE should call her ass to task on how repulsive that was. Where is Charlamagne da Gay when you need him? The whole bit about suckin a dick and it exploding were so stupid that that is all I’m giving it. Just dumb and desperate. She should have put more work into creating very funny and entertaining material the way she fought to get her point, all be it bullshit, across when she went after Oprah, Tyler, Netflix, and Lee Daniels who was sitting in the front row doing damage control of their relationship. For Monique.. Believe it or not sis, we actually want better for you than you want for yourself. You see yourself as a person who can discern situations well, but yet you were completely blind to how callous and careless this was to literally the entire nation let alone your own black culture. You can speak eloquently and intelligently when it’s time to ‘read’ folk, but you are ignorant, pompous, and blind when it comes to what comedy is. If I were you, like a monk, I would seek out SINBAD the comedian, sit at his feet, and learn how to create content so funny, people will be hurting when they finish watching your performance or just quit Stand up comedy. Actually, all comedy, to be honest, you are much more convincing as a Big Girl with Gabrielle Union, Angela Bassett vibes, always angry at everyone and everything, everywhere. Nuff said. Bad Monique, BAD BAD BAD Monique.
It wasnt typical stand up comedy… there were some laughs, but it felt deeper than that..her life, hardships, trutths etc .. i love monique and enjoyed it… but definitely overuse of cursing.. i would advise her to scale that back a little…
This was more autobiographical than comedy. I got the feeling that she was looking to cleanse herself more than anything else. She had some funny moments. She was more vulnerable than ever. However, her cussing was a bit much but I’m still going to give her ***** stars out of 5 because (1) she fought for her place in Netflix (2) she allowed us to see her for who she is. She should do another show but this time: focus on comedy more. Also: the LGBTQ+ community should see her as a trailblazer!
Let me ask the viewers a question. Is it that she wasnt funny or, is it, it was too much profanity, for a woman?
If this were a man with the same amount of vulgar language, would you feel the same?
I think many of the people writing these reviews are writing from within a tunnel!
Monique is not just speaking to those with no power to cast/call/ or negotiate business deals.
Monique was telling her story to; You, Me & every producer and director out there who was told “DNR”! Thats (Do Not Rececitate in medical terms)
Where many of you just wanted gut wrenching laughter only? She brilliantly used the moment for the opportunity to interview with the people who write the checks!
B-R-I-L-L-I-A-N-T!
Briliiant!
Not worth the time. If you enjoy vulgarity and katt williams N word impressions this is the time waster for you. I never thought she was comparably funny to other female comedians this sealed the casket for me. She was unsure so much so editing couldn’t hide it.