Bill Cosby: Far From Finished

It is said that the celebrity factor for the best-known comedians affords them perhaps a 10-minute grace period with audiences before they have to legitimately bring the funny. No elder comedian is more beloved and esteemed than Bill Cosby, who appears here in his first standup special in 30 years, confirming his status as the dean—although “standup” is a bit of a misnomer, as Cosby sits throughout. But even sitting, Cosby's body language and facial expressions effectively help sell his observations and stories, which mostly revolve around marriage and the Mars/Venus divide. While Cosby's delivery hasn't dated, some may feels his views have (mainly, variations on how men are powerless against their controlling girlfriends or wives). Cosby compares marriage to chess, in which the queen moves wherever she wants. Cosby doesn't tell jokes per se, but stories in which he is at odds with, or in the doghouse of, “Mrs. Cosby.” Among the better ones here is a bit about when he forgot his security alarm code. Director Robert Townsend here wisely keeps the camera trained on the performer, with no gratuitous or pandering audience reaction shots. Extras include a conversation between Townsend and Cosby (who talks about his start in comedy), and behind-the-scenes featurettes. Recommended. Aud: P. (D. Liebenson)