George Carlin: Doin' It Again

George Carlin's "Doin' It Again" is a 1999 stand-up comedy film, showcasing the irreverent and incisive humor of the legendary comedian. This film marks a return to his home turf in New Jersey, where Carlin unleashes a barrage of biting commentary on the human condition, tackling a wide range of topics with his signature wit and insight. The film begins with Carlin's observations on language, a theme that recurs throughout the performance. He critiques the tendency to shy away from offending people, arguing that words are merely labels and that their meaning is entirely dependent on context. This line of thinking leads him to lament the proliferation of euphemisms, which he derides as attempts to sugarcoat the reality of an issue. Carlin's stand-up routine takes a turn for the darker when he touches on the subject of cancer, which he views as the ultimate equalizer. Despite the ubiquity of disease, he notes that many people still resist discussing it openly, as if acknowledging its reality might somehow conjure it into existence. This theme of evasion and denial is a recurring motif in the film, as Carlin tackles topics that most people tend to avoid. The comedian's irreverent style is on full display when he begins to discuss dogs. Rather than offering a straightforward tribute to our canine companions, Carlin chooses to focus on their more annoying aspects. He pokes fun at the tendency of dog owners to anthropomorphize their pets, giving them human-like personalities and motivations. This, he argues, is a ridiculous exercise in projecting human emotions onto an animal that doesn't actually possess the capacity for self-awareness. Carlin's views on the intelligence of humans are similarly scathing. He delights in poking fun at what he perceives as the absurdities of everyday life, remarking on the many "good ideas" that people come up with despite a profound lack of common sense. These observations are delivered with a wicked glint in his eye, as if he's perpetually astonished (and slightly appalled) by the collective foolishness of humanity. The film tackles more serious topics as well, including feminist ideals and the concept of rape. Carlin's take on these subjects is characterized by a willingness to confront the uncomfortable realities that underlie societal norms. He's critical of the way that language can be used to obfuscate rather than illuminate, often employing irony and sarcasm to make his points. One of the most notable aspects of "Doin' It Again" is Carlin's tendency to meander through his stand-up routine, often launching into tangents that feel unconnected to the preceding bit. This loose structure creates a sense of improvisational spontaneity, as if Carlin is responding to the audience's unspoken queries rather than adhering to a preconceived script. This approach serves to underscore his reputation as a master of observational comedy. In other instances, Carlin's rants veer into the realm of the bizarre, such as when he starts talking about the concept of "organ donors." His delivery is deadpan, yet he manages to wring a dark humor from the idea of surrendering one's bodily organs to the medical establishment. Life's moments, as Carlin observes, are often fraught with absurdity and contradiction. He notes the prevalence of "rape" statistics in media reports, only to question the way that this information is actually presented. This is part of a broader commentary on the way that language can distort our perception of reality, creating a haze of euphemisms and circumlocutions that conceal more than they reveal. As is the case with many of Carlin's stand-up routines, "Doin' It Again" is infused with a sense of anger and frustration, directed at the complacency and hypocrisy that he perceives in modern society. Even as he ridicules our tendency to get exercised over minor annoyances, he makes a case for embracing the contradictions and complexities that truly define human experience.