Dress to Kill

By: Monika Raczkowski
Posted In: Entertainment

What happens when you combine an executive transvestite with an action transvestite? You get Eddie Izzard, a stand-up comedian in full make-up, strutting across the stage in high heels, glossy leather pants and a star-studded kimono. His exaggerated faces, hand motions and signature expression-a wide-mouthed confused look with his tongue sticking out sideways and eyes gazing in the opposite direction-characterize his animated personality.

Izzard distinguishes himself in his film Dress to Kill (1999), with his societal nitpicking, stream of consciousness and allusions to Monty Python. He points out the absurdities of life with cunningness and astuteness. He uses the real world as his stage and critiques mundane daily activities and history and turns them into incisive observations that make his comedy timeless. Despite the nine years that have passed, Izzard’s movie is as comical as it was when it was filmed.

Izzard’s comedy is based on life experiences that make his humor easy to relate to and understand. A French class becomes the subject of a rampage about the absurdity of learning a second language. He says the first phrases he learned are: the mouse is under the table, the cat is on the chair and the monkey is in the brush.

“In the end, the only way I could get those lines into conversation is I had to go to France with a cat, a mouse, a monkey, a table and a chair and wander around heavily wooded areas,” Izzard said counting all the things he would need to bring and then pretended to drag them as he crossed the stage.

Izzard speaks about Hitler as a man responsible for the death of six million Jews. Izzard points out the irony of a “mass murdering” vegetarian. He talks about how it is tolerable to kill your own people but not your neighbors. Izzard uses Stalin as an example and claims Stalin was able to kill many millions, but died in his own bed. “Hitler killed people next door. ohhh, stupid man,” Izzard said. “After a couple of years, we won’t stand for that, will we?” He follows this comment with sarcastic praise for Hitler, “You killed 100,000 people? You must get up very early in the morning-I can’t even get down to the gym!”

Izzard criticizes his own humor by writing invisible notes on his hand when a joke doesn’t get the laugh he expected, but doesn’t laugh at his own jokes. He uses his upbringing in Yemen and Europe as a basis for comparison with America. He talks about everything from differences in pronunciation along with the American dream against the nonexistent European dream.

He mimics Italians as men riding Vespa motor scooters without helmets, glancing from side-to-side, raising their eyebrows and declaring “ciao” to each person they see. “There are dogs walking faster than you,” Izzard said.

He talks about how the National Rifle Association claims that guns don’t kill people, people do. “But I think the gun helps–you know? I think it helps,” Izzard said. “I just think standing there and going bang, that’s not going to kill many people is it?”

Izzard’s comedy within this film often refers to politics and history although it is generally comprehensive. Some viewers may be scratching their heads confused if they don’t know the Ottoman Empire. “What? They must have lots of furniture there!” Izzard said. Some may not differentiate Mussolini from Stalin, but it’s easy to catch up if you are not quite sure what he is talking about. The political and historical references within his act provide the viewer with a critical view of the world rather than the crude comedy of many modern blockbusters.

Izzard has also made appearances in several movies such as All the Queen’s Men and Ocean’s Twelve. He played a cameo role in the movie Across the Universe.

This video is one of five live DVDs. Compared to some of the other films, Dress to Kill is more deliberate than his usual comedy skits as the pieces are more interconnected. Even though the DVD Sexie Live is more recent, from 2004, Izzard more frequently takes a second to think and says his usual, “Now where were we. Oh yes, continuing on.” There are fewer pauses and more flow between pieces in Dress to Kill.

Izzard’s stand-up comedy is not for viewers who are easily offended. His arguments are witty, although not crude, but are often profane. Izzard provides 175 minutes of constant laughter. Anyone looking for good laugh and a fresh outlook on America would enjoy the film.