Summary
From canceling crystals to his obsession with the elderly, this is a hilarious special from upcoming comedy king, Matt Rife.
Netflix is hot with its comedy specials at the moment, and that run continues with Matt Rife: Natural Selection. Set in DC, this is Rife’s first Netflix stand-up special, in which he discusses everything from masturbation to monsters.
Embarking on his first world tour (I’ve got my tickets for Manchester next year) this special gives viewers worldwide an insight into what to expect live, and if it’s anything like this, we are in for a funny treat. If you don’t know who Matt Rife is, let’s give you a little breakdown. The 28-year-old native of North Lewisburg, Ohio, self-financed and released his first two specials, Only Fans and Matthew Steven Rife, on YouTube, and has gained a huge following on TikTok. He’s known for his wide range of audience participation, and storytelling style of comedy. His charm and easy-going persona make him a delight on stage, with audiences wanting to talk to him rather than heckle.
Matt Rife: Natural Selection review and plot summary
Matt walks out to an enormous, cheering audience with a 50 Cent soundtrack behind him, on a huge stage. Humble, his first thing is to wave and touch the hands of the people in the front row. This is more like a concert than a comedy special, but I am here for this giant spectacle. Before he starts his sets, he thanks the audience over and over again and does a small tribute to his late grandfather.
The stage is huge and there are multiple shots from behind Rife, showcasing the vast audience that he’s able to entertain. It really is like something from the London Apollo. It’s an impressive set-up for a first comedy special.
Rife swears and doesn’t care; he throws all his opinions onto the table, whilst laughing, keeping us all aware that we are allowed to laugh too. His first opening jokes are about all the “hippie shit” going on at the moment and canceling crystals, followed by ripping into young people, and declaring his love and unhealthy obsession for the older generation. Rife also covers Karma, online trolls, religion, personal problems, ghosts, monsters, sex and so much more.
It helps that Matt is extremely cute to look at, which adds to his endearing charm that shines through in his comedy. His situational and storytelling style is first-class as he covers anything and everything, making sure to not leave any stone unturned. His set is complete with accents and character impressions, which emphasize his stories to give an extra layer of fun.
Is Matt Rife: Natural Selection Worth Watching?
As a first Netflix special, this is top-notch stuff, and it’s no wonder this kid has a sell-out world tour.
Matt Rife: Natural Selection is of the highest standard and one of the best I have watched this year. There were multiple times I actually cackled — laughed out loud and texted my brother quoting his one-liners. With a runtime of just over an hour, watching this is time well spent.
What did you think of Matt Rife: Natural Selection? Comment below.
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