Robin Williams Live! captures a terrific 1981 performance by the manic stand-up comedian whose career was in full bloom following the phenomenal success of his sitcom Mork and Mindy A human electrical storm, he careens between subjects with relentless energy, zapping social trends, sex and popular figures such as Clint Eastwood and Jack Nicholson with deadly accuracy. As with any of Williams' stand-up routines, Robin Williams Live! is very profane, and should only be viewed by mature audiences. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Movie Guide
Review
Before becoming a television and movie star, Robin Williams broke through as one of the most energetic stand-up comics in history. This concert film, his first, displays that early genius. He would refine his stand-up act in years to come. The San Francisco concert in 1983, his late eighties Evening at the Met show, and his 2002 Broadway special show a man shaping his material into longer, more personal and socially relevant pieces. But here, the wild man wants nothing more than to get as many laughs as possible in the seventy minutes he spends on stage. Getting as much comedic mileage out of the audience as he does out of the material he has prepared, Williams overwhelms the crowd there (which is peppered with celebrities), as well as the viewer at home. As a document of the man's breathless energy, Robin Williams Live! is essential for any Williams fan or stand-up comedy enthusiast. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
