In the sixties a relatively new phenomena hit homes in America; the party album. Typically these were records; yes this was before CD that people would play when they had people over. Mostly they were comedy albums of up and coming stand up comedians. There were two basic types; clean and dirty. Clean comedians like Bill Cosby were already popular in stand up clubs and television but recordings helped push their celebrity status. Other comedians who preferred to work blue had to clean up their acts in order to get a spot on even a late night talk show. The release of an album allowed them a venue for their uncut and uncensored performance. Now we live in an age of cable television networks and DVDs. The same division is still around with premium networks like HBO airing the rougher, more adult material while Comedy Central handles the family friendlier stuff. Of course Comedy Central often airs uncensored material late at night usually after 1 am. As for the DVD releases they are mostly uncut and very adult. Some comedians still rely on adult language but there are a few that still can get a laugh out of the audience without resorting to foul language. Kevin Hart is not one of them. He curses as he tells his stories to the audience. While not as vulgar as many of his contemporaries his latest DVD, ‘Kevin Hart: I'm A Grown Little Man: Live’ is definitely not for the younger members of your household. It is a good choice for the time honored use of a party album. When you have some of your grown up friends over pop this in the DVD player and you will be laughing. This disc is funny and well paced and just right as long as you are not easily offended. The DVD release is through Image Entertainment, a distributor that has one of the most eclectic catalogues in the business.

Many in out there in the audience may not immediately recognize the name Kevin Hart but chances are you have seen him in a guilty pleasure comedy. He has appeared in the last two installments of the ‘Scary Movie’ franchise as well as ‘Epic Movie’, ‘Drillbit Taylor’ and ‘Meet Dave’. He has also appeared in some more mainstream comedies as ‘The 40 Year Old Virgin’. Okay, in light of full disclosure he was in the lamentable ‘Soul Plane’. Born in Philadelphia this former shoe salesman left his mundane job to seek a career in stand up comedy and has made it on television and the stand up circuit. As the title of this disc indicates he is not a tall man coming in at just over 5’4". His act is typically observational humor looking at the foibles and follies of our society.

The set up for his act is pretty much standard. He takes the stage in casual garb with a stool and bottle of water next to him. His first joke is a reference to his lack of height which he takes immediately into the things going on in his life. He and his wife just had their second child, a son. He does note that having two car seats does interfere with his trying to talk to women. One has to wonder about what his wife thinks about this particular aspect of his act. Now that he has children he finds that he is angrier than ever. Hart does have the tendency to use the dreaded ‘S’ word as just about every part of speech possible. It peppers every other sentence in his act. Hart is a very physical comedian. He bobs his head emulating his newborn son’s inability to focus yet. Unlike a lot of comedians he is not prone to roaming around the stage a lot. He stands their connecting with his audience. His daughter has just begun to speak and already Hart finds himself in arguments with her. His humor is relatable to most of us but they are the type of things that we usually don’t openly speak about.

He waxes a bit philosophical at one point noting that you have to understand your own basic nature. If you are not a fighter you should embrace that fact. Hart understands this and as such always carries a whistle. If he feels at all threaten he will blow it loudly. This is the type of self deprecation that goes well with the audience. They respond well to Hart poking fun at his own, self admitted limitations. He continued that the other person may win the fight but his hearing will be off the next day. Hart gives some advice to the many wannabe singers. He tells them that all they need to do is learn how to open and close their hands with the music and point. For all the language concerns his humor is fundamentally gentle and honest. He is able to relate to the audience with topics that we all know about and may have noticed ourselves. It is just that Hart can present it in such a fashion that connects with those watching him.

Hart openly admits to being afraid of dolphins. They are generally considered cute, playful and friendly but for him they are a source of terror. While on vacation in Hawaii his wife wanted to go swim with the aquatic mammals. He tries to refuse but his wife impugns his manhood so he was trapped. They get there and there are elderly ladies and small children riding them. He was ready to prove himself. As soon as he grabs the dolphin’s fin it goes to the bottom of the tank. Hart was so scared that he couldn’t let go. Although this is a ridiculous situation that none of us would find ourselves in we laugh at the sheer funny picture he paints in our minds. This is one of his strongest points; the ability to let us in on how he views life. He is a man who comes across as honest with the audience. He admits to not liking dating and glad he is in a marriage. He was no good at dating women since he always tried to over compensate for his lack of height by trying too hard to impress the young lady; more times than not he would come off as an idiot.

While he is not the best stand up comedian I have seen he has a strong and funny act that will bring the required laughs. He doesn’t avoid racial topics but there is no specific concentration on this form of comedy. Hart is a comedian that is able to transcend the differences that many of his trade try so hard to highlight. Hart is a rare form of stand up comedian who can open up with the audience. There is a method to his humor that comes across as a guy in the neighborhood. You all know the type. He is the one making fun of everything insight and is typically the life of the party. Hart comes across as someone that you would like to hang out with. Now, for a little while thanks to this disc you can.