"It's easy to like Matt Green.
"If Jimmy Carr is 'one of the biggest faces in comedy - literally,' then Matt's the smallest. He looks about twelve. And the nice thing is he gets this outa the way as the first gag and the other nice thing is he chooses not to ham up his distinctively goofy features. Consider it a wasted opportunity - comic synergy and all that - but in this case a set of grimaces would only detract.
"'Cause don't be fooled, this is no schoolboy set. As he slyly ironises the good and the great, Matt flaunts a surprisingly mature wisdom and a refreshingly up-to-the-sec awareness. He's clearly torn a page from vintage Ben Elton and still-sparkling Mark Thomas, comics who keep writing till just before they hit the stage. Even better, he has Jo Brand's wicked whackiness with hecklers, of which there are, technically speaking, truckloads tonight... Fortunately Matt has the suss to lash back at the idiots and also the guts to acknowledge the clever 'uns.
"Overall, there's only one prob. But it's a fundamental one and it niggles and nags at me right through. For all his style and wile and bile, Matt's still a relative newcomer and yup, it shows. The gags are great but could be tighter, his approach is cool but should be cooler, the persona is nice but oughta be nasty.
"In the meantime, it is indeed easy to like Matt. But I'm waiting to love him.
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