Dieter Nuhr: Nuhr in Berlin Netflix Comedy Special Review

Dieter Nuhr: Nuhr in Berlin (2016)

Nuhr in Berlin

Watch Nuhr in Berlin on Netflix
Starring: Dieter Nuhr
Rated: TV-MA/R

Plot
This subtitled German language comedy special features cabaret artist and comedian Dieter Nuhr as he humorously explains the ever complicated world of Germany.


Verdict
Comedy is as much about delivery and timing as it is the joke. Reading subtitles just doesn't translate well.
While Nuhr provides thoughtful commentary on German culture and refugees, nothing I read was crazy funny. His dead pan humor was amusing, but I wanted more.
Skip it.


Review
The title is a play on words. In German Nuhr means "just" or "only", so the title reads as "Only in Berlin", and Nuhr has won numerous awards in Germany for his comedy and cabaret.

Subtitles are tough, especially with comedy, but even the crowd was noticeably silent for the opening of Nuhr's set. I wondered how many times he was going to say, "That's not a joke." Based on the opening alone, I was afraid I'd be in for a boring ride. While it gets better, that's not a ringing endorsement.

Nuhr states this will be a Netflix special and segues into how Americans talk and how his jokes will be translated. That will include lots of "f bombs." Nuhr has seen rappers, he knows how Americans talk.

I don't know if this is his first time on video, but he hardly ever looks away from the camera. It makes for a strange experience because I feel like he's staring right at me. The camera rarely breaks from Nuhr, there is the occasional wide shot, and a surprisingly low number of crowd reactions. Is that due to the crowd just not reacting?

The trailer made this seem like it would be an insight into German culture and humor. I began doubting that with his continued views on America, but this does come around as he discusses refugees, culture, and religion. There are a few German specific jokes that went right over my head. Unless you know German geography, you might be lost.

What he's doing is stand up satire, rather than comedy. It's not laugh out loud funny, but it's amusing.
It's observation comedy, but instead of stepping back and asking, "Isn't that absurd and hilarious?" He asks, "Isn't that interesting? Nod if you agree."