Reporters Notebook: Kevin Hart still makes me laugh, but does he make me think?

Kevin Hart performed a sold-out show Sunday at Climate Pledge Arena. He is set to return Dec. 10 for a follow-up performance.

Before the age of the internet ushered in an explosion of social media interaction that allowed fans to engage directly with celebrities and performers, standup comedy functioned as a one-way street. A comedian stood on stage and told jokes – the audience either laughed, or they didn’t. Perhaps some degree of heckling would be involved.

Now, audiences have an opportunity to push-back on jokes and hold comedians to an unprecedented level of scrutiny for the jokes they tell. An example of this new age of audience empowerment was on full display when the First Avenue theater in Minneapolis cancelled a Dave Chappelle show on July 11, after staff pushed back on the comedian for jokes made at the expense of the trans community.

But even as we wade through this time when comedians face push back, and some even claim that cancel culture is ruining their profession – comedy is alive and well. It just takes skill and finesse as opposed to senseless offensiveness and useless vulgarity.

To be fair, after Chappelle’s show was cancelled at First Avenue, he immediately booked five sold-out shows over three days at the Varsity Theater in Minneapolis. And even as Chappelle has pushed back against 'cancel culture,' he is far from being cancelled. In fact, his current tour with fellow comedic legend Chris Rock has a stop at Climate Pledge Arena on Dec. 16.

Comedian Kevin Hart has done a great job of finding commercial success. The Emmy and Grammy nominated star has also amassed significant box-office success, with his movies grossing more than $4 billion.

The first time I saw Kevin Hart live, it was at the Moore Theatre back in 2011. Hart was nowhere near the mega-star he is today, but I have one lasting memory from that show – I laughed until my face hurt, literally.

While some comedians like Chappelle, who is unarguably one of the all-time greats, push the boundaries with edgy societal criticism and controversial opinions that risk being more offensive than funny – Kevin Hart is an audience’s comedian. He packs explosive energy in his 5-foot frame and delivers punchline after punchline without requiring a deep level of introspection from the audience.

For better or for worse, Hart's set Sunday reminded me of the show I saw so many years ago. His jokes are still rooted in his small stature. He still spins hilarious catchphrase laden tales of his father, and he is masterful at bringing audiences into his world with stories of his friends and family, and glimpses into his love life.

The difference now is that his stories have evolved to include his dealings with fellow celebrities. His bit on Lebron James had the guy next to me slumping in his seat with laughter. His story with Tyrese Gibson and Chris “Ludacris” Bridges was a highlight of the show.

However, even with the barrage of punchlines and repeatable catchphrases, it did feel like something was missing. Back in 2011, I sat in the audience as a young man with no kids, no significant responsibilities, and no strong political affiliations.

Now, in 2022, after living through a global pandemic and an American racial injustice awakening, I’m a whole new person. A father, a journalist, a cultural critic and reporter, and someone who may not have a concrete political affiliation – but I’m definitely someone who cares and pays close attention to the power structures impacting our communities.

There is a part of me that wishes Hart’s comedy had aged, or perhaps matured. There is a level of risk that Hart won’t take. He does mention the protests of 2020 in the wake of the killing of George Floyd. But not in significant way that gives any insight or even personal reflection of the events that took place. Instead, he approaches the protest from his vantage point as a privileged celebrity who could easily insert himself into the forefront of the movement, but one who is also beholden to the corporations he represents, and his ultimate choice to not upset the money.

In these times, I am reluctant to judge Black celebrities for not inserting themselves into the liberation movement. Not everyone is knowledgeable or intellectually equipped to enter this arena. Hart says in the show multiple times that he “is not an activist.” I respect that self-awareness. But as a father, and a 43-year-old Black man who has made a living in having a unique perspective, and then articulating that perspective to audiences, it seems like Hart has an opportunity to push his boundaries a little further.

Even as Hart choses not to address social issues in his act, it is still a dynamite performance. His jokes are crisp, and his ability to jump in and out of characters is masterful. And the most important aspect of any comedian is their ability to make us laugh. Hart was so funny last Sunday, that I left with a headache.

Kevin Hart will perform on Dec. 10 at Climate Pledge Arena.