DVD Review: Nick Thune's Thick Noon

Nick Thune isn't necessarily a man of few words. Maybe, instead, he’s just a man that always seems comfortable. Comedian, actor, musician, writer - Nick has fallen easily into every title bestowed on him, even acting as a short-lived correspondent on the only slightly-longer-lived Jay Leno Show. So when you get yourself a copy of his debut comedy album Thick Noon (and you should), don’t be surprised if there’s a little less Sam Kinison and a little more hipster Steven Wright.

If you aren’t already familiar with Nick Thune, you clearly don’t get out to many top-notch comedy shows around town. Nick is always out doing shows at the Steve Allen or UCB, almost always with his guitar in tow. And there he stands: tall, gangly, unassumingly charming, strumming out light melodies so his hands have something to do while the only other moving part of his body (his head) tells you jokes. Or maybe you’re familiar with Nick, but can’t quite place from where. Knocked Up? Extract? Unaccompanied Minors? All of the above, probably. Or maybe, just maybe, you’ve caught the hilarious Nick’s Big Show, co-starring such heavy-hitters a Kate Micucci and Nick Kroll. At any rate, those of you less than versed in the ways of Nick Thune can now rejoice: Thick Noon is currently available in stores, with a DVD and CD combo deserving of your shelf space.

The show opens with Nick in his natural habitat: behind the microphone and strapped into a guitar. He kicks out one-liners with ease, letting timing do a lot of the heavy lifting for him. But even when the guitar gets put aside, Nick finds a way to keep his hands busy, this time in his joke notebook. The tempo picks up and eventually we’re able to piece together longer bits, small stories, and really let the momentum build. If there is one catch to the deadpan humor so loved by Thune, it can certainly be the lack of energy in the show. Stronger men that Nick have drowned with the weight of a show’s lethargy, but, again, he seems right at home. Eventually the guitar is back on (after a short detour into the set scenery), and Nick brings the show home with a few bits that actually resemble songs, and a return to a handful of quick jokes. The beginning has become the end.

Thick Noon really does feel like a well-rounded comedy show. It changes pace (although never into high gear) and rolls right along when the road refuses to stay smooth. Nick banters and laughs at himself with the concentration and ease of a comic much older than he is, giving Thick Noon the feel of a special you’ve watched twenty times on late night Comedy Central, but just can’t change the channel from. It’s almost like you’ve seen this guy somewhere before.

Thick Noon is currently available for purchase.