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11 out of 16 people found the following review useful: Commentary on Hicks-Leary comparison in as objective form as i possibly can muster., 13 November 2004 Author: Oyaji291 (Oyaji291@gmail.com) from Ohio, US
The only thing I have to say about the comparisons between Bill Hicks and Denis Leary is this- Bill made his special, "Dangerous", in the 1980's. Leary's "No Cure For Cancer" came out in the early 1990's. I'm just saying this because I'm tired of the people who praise him saying "If I'd heard hicks first, blah blah blah." Well, there's your proof of Leary's theft.Anyway, I happen to like Leary's style. To be honest, I think the guy's talented as hell. But, because of his unfortunate sellout to animated movies and commercials, I cannot keep myself in any state of respect for him. Not to mention his theft of Hicks' style which put him on the map in the first place. I like Leary, but what he's done is unforgivable as far as I'm concerned.As for this special, it's a decent comedy special with enough political insight for you to get your kicks off on (if you were so intrigued by it). While he manages to get a couple of laughs (Especially with the French material) I myself could not find myself laughing merely because of the fact that was previously stated. Not a bad special, just wish he would have at least admitted to his wrongdoings.
8 out of 11 people found the following review useful: IM AN A*SHOLE-LIO-LIO!, 30 March 2002 Author: RyuKenAkuma159 from Kearny, NJ
PERFECT! This was a great special. I have this on CD on I laughed my A** off. Denis is a great actor and a great comic who tells great stories....and great trash talk. his songs are full of hillarious lyrics about serious things. He is my 1st favorite comic/actor. My 2nd favorite is George Carlin. This deserves a 9/10.
7 out of 11 people found the following review useful: Everything a concert movie should be and more..., 22 September 2000 Author: CoenSis (coensister@aol.com) from Los Angeles, CA
This is one of the few stand-up performances that actually justifies "concert" movies. With just a pack of cigarettes, a microphone and his incredible talent, Denis Leary takes on an arsenal of subjects with wit, passion and scathing commentary. Why isn't this man a bigger star? If his movies could capture even an ounce of the intelligence and charisma he displays prowling the stage in this one-hour special, he should be making more money than Tom Cruise and Jim Carrey put together. Even when he turns reflective and introspective, he doesn't let sentiment get in the way of his hilarious act. The next time you're complaining there's no funny movies to rent, take this home--no excuses!
6 out of 10 people found the following review useful: One of the most poignant and hilarious comedy specials ever, 21 June 2000 Author: MisterWhiplash from United States
I never knew Denis Leary was a comic until I saw this special (I just thought he was a talented actor). Now I know he is a talented comic/actor. Here, he examines how the country has changed with drugs, rehab, more drugs, smoking, meat and many other things that show he is insane in his comedy. But he is also sincere when he talks about his son and his father (though I never laughed so hard at the thought of wood paneling). Great comedian, great fun, with a very memorable song to sing along with. A+
10 out of 18 people found the following review useful: Justice appears to have been served, 1 November 2004 Author: inaneindamembrane from London
I love the way that this site have given Bill Hicks and uncredited writing "credit" for this - seems like they know the score and have bigger testicles than I ever game them credit for - I wonder how many packs a day they smoke :-)for those of you who don't know, before Leary became a corporate sell out and did beer commercials, he lifted his style, delivery, and most of his material (often verbatim) from a fellow comedian called Bill Hicks.He does it quite well though and No Cure for Cancer is worth a chuckle, and its easy to see why Leary's watered down, corporately acceptable, and mass marketable versions of Hicks' style and material earned Leary the success that it did - the same success and recognition that eluded Hicks during his lifetime.If you want your ranting and non-conformist comedy of a ultimately non challenging variety then Leary will probably do for you.Otherwise I suggest you try the originator of Leary's work first
7 out of 13 people found the following review useful: I don't care if he "stole" from Bill Hicks; it's damned funny., 30 November 2005 Author: MovieAddict2009 from UK
Only recently have I heard that Denis Leary allegedly "stole" from the late comedian Bill Hicks. What is ironic is that Hicks stayed out of the spotlight until his death, and now that Leary has become more popular Hicks is, in essence, becoming more famous AFTER his death due to the "Leary/Hicks" controversy.I haven't heard enough Hicks to be able to intelligently debate whether or not one "stole" from the other - all I know is that Denis Leary makes me laugh. And whether or not he stole from Hicks, he's since gone on to do his own acts and form his own style and appear in films - "The Ref," for example (one of the most underrated comedies ever), is great largely due to Leary. His fierce attitude and energy and rough attitude are all him. He may have stolen some tricks from Hicks but Hicks is dead now, and he's been dead for a while, and Leary's continued on churning out stuff that I think is very funny - and which is NOT stolen from anyone.On the IMDb message boards a user named Tom Myers writes: "Hicks didn't write any of Leary's material. Sure, they talk about similar things, but I own all of Leary's and Hicks' albums and there is no blatant ripping-off of a joke. Yes, there are similarities in personalities, but given that the two men did not emerge until the early 1990s, there is no way to figure out which comedian originally came up with which piece of material. There is even a possibility that Hicks could have used some of Leary's material (Jim Fixx, voice boxes) as Leary mentions in his book, also titled "No Cure For Cancer," that he was doing bits about drugs and smoking as early as the 1980s. According to many Hicks biographies, Hicks did not take up smoking until he gave up drugs in 1984/85, long after Leary started doing bits about smoking." Anyway, this comedy standup act is classic. It contains some of the best rants of all time and Leary goes from one to the next like a madman. I really enjoy listening to it and watching it from time to time, and a lot of the stuff he talks about I can find myself relating to.Highly recommended for anyone who wants to laugh. Ignore the controversy, see it for yourself and if you like it, go get some Bill Hicks and compare.
2 out of 4 people found the following review useful: This is the perfect mixture of sarcasm and stupidity, 11 January 2006 Author: stewart_1111 from United Kingdom
this show is what inspired me to try and be a more funny person from the moment it starts he is going crazy.He never picks on anyone in the audience and he is the essence of comedy if this man still did comedy today he would be bigger than ant and Dec.In the show you can see how much it is taking out of him but he still tries to be funny correction he doesn't have to try he is anyway.watching this was the funniest hour of my life. Denis Leary is comedy genius and deserves more than the 10/10 i rated him.my favourite line in the show is when he says happiness is "ciggarette a chocolate chip cookie and a five second orgasm" just from those words on the front cover i knew that it was going to be something special.this is a show that is guaranteed to have you laughing about a part of it days later it is just simply superb.the lnies he reads the back of his mind are so precise. Although to watch this stand up you need a strong stomach (or just to try and hold your insides in. Some people may find this offensive but i just fin it brilliant.
2 out of 4 people found the following review useful: One of the Funniest Stand-up routines of all-time!!, 25 October 2001 Author: Dale Marcella (silverkings13@hotmail.com) from Ottawa, Canada
No Cure for Cancer has been a favourite of mine for years. Denis Leary's irreverent and sometime shocking observations still make me laugh out loud.If you enjoyed his last special "Lock and Load," you'll love his first. It brings you back to the days when Leary was at his ranting best. The humour is a little more harsh than in "Lock and Load," but in my estimation that is when he is "on."Leary gained much of his fame from his comedy special, "No Cure For Cancer." His laugh-out-loud observations include; smoking, the 70's, celebrities, life, and of course (as the title alludes) Death.Leary's delivery and on-stage charisma are perfected, and this is one of the funniest stand-up routines of all time. He get more credit as an actor, but No Cure for Cancer is when he is at his comedic best. Highly recommended.
3 out of 6 people found the following review useful: Meat, drugs, and irish immigrants, 24 August 2002 Author: Max_Doobermin (PsychoPatrick@aol.com) from Hammond, IN
This is one of the funniest comedies specials I have ever seen. I highly recommend it. He expresses his views on meat, drugs, alcohol, ciggarrettes, his family, and cancer. Funny stories, funny faces, funny sounds, and funny songs help along this hilarious routine.
2 out of 5 people found the following review useful: It is offensive to some, but a clear classic never the less, 1 July 2005 Author: rar2 from United States
It's an eight flirting with a nine. Forget that, it is a classic, so it gets nothing less than a nine. Ted Demme, save for the coke problem that unfortunately took his life, is brilliant. I don't mean to be insensitive; however, it is fitting here. I believe the next time someone uses a quote of a movie and criticizes it they should get it correct. Leary says "I'm sick and tired of our generation getting called the TV generation. Well all you guys did was watch TV. What'd ya expect? We watched Lee Harvey Oswald get shot, live on television, one day. We were afraid to change the channel for the next 30 years. This show sucks. Yeah, but someone might get shot during the commercial - -hang on." The point is Leary is ignorant, but brilliant. He wrote this while he and his wife were shacked up in Massachusetts and unable to move. That family part of him comes through in the movie, not the CD. There are more songs on the CD and as good is it is, the movie is better. The ending is maybe a bit cheesy, but fluent with Leary, and fair. The weakest part is his proclamation of love for New York City, when he in fact he seethes so much Bostonian love that part loses some cred. During "Comics Come Home" he says who cares that Eddie Brill won New York Comic of the year three times? Because he's from Boston. But as if Leary would really care. In addition to that the "poodle man" sequence, with regards to NYC, is out of sight. He plays to the audience, not the camera. It is a movie, not a stand-up special.As for the Bill Hicks comments: who? I have a feeling Leary would say that. After all, during his roast he roasted Peter Gallagher for having a uni-brow and Mario Cantone for being gay and slipping it past his family. There after, he kissed Cantone on the lips (Gallagher wasn't present). Leary is sincere and honest, for the Comedy troupes, to the charities, to his new show. And like he said he is "an a--hole," but a damn funny one
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