Review by Steve Bennett

In the Wonderful World of Disney, the best bits from great Disney films would be spliced together for an enjoyable family compilation.

Similarly, in the World Of Spencer Brown, the best bits from great comics have been spliced together for an enjoyable comedy compilation.

It's clearly derivative of Steve Martin's fabulous 'wild and crazy guy' act - for which Brown's been criticised before - but in itself that's no worse than the plentiful supply of hack comics who take their style from the shared gene pool where gags about sex, drugs and bodily functions rule.

More unnerving is the fact that some of the gags themselves have a distinct air of familiarity, too, as he mixes elements of conventional stand-up into his manic act.

Not that any of this will concern the vast majority of comedy-goers.

For them, his relentless and fearless enthusiasm will sweep them along as his tornado of fast one-liners, silly prop humour and infectious bongo-playing rips down any defences.

It's a spirited and fun act, that only a curmudgeon would fail to get carried away with.

But if only he could channel all that positive energy into something that was more distinctly his own, he could really be onto something.

Review date: 1 Jan 2001
Reviewed by: Steve Bennett