Miller's Crossing

Genial stand-up presence mixes a blend of the surprisingly absurd and the accessibly general

By Michael Shashoua / Jester editor-in-chief

Stand-up comedian and actor T.J. Miller, whose best movie role was in the J.J. Abrams horror movie “Cloverfield,” has a gift for absurdity that’s on display in “No Real Reason,” a special just released on DVD after airing on Comedy Central this week.

A few of the more memorable moments in Miller’s show: Poking fun at how others have teased or bullied him based on his goofy appearance. Describing how a compulsive awkward hand gesture can make anything you say seem crazy or inappropriate. Horrifying those who would judge or stare at him if he’s gotten sick from drinking too much.

Miller creates a sense of unpredictability right from the start, kicking off his performance with a dead-on impression of loud nauseous dry heaving, so accurate it’s actually a bit scary. He does seem to veer from tangent to tangent, without any through line in subject matter, but overall has enough of a conventional and relatable persona that he doesn’t venture into performance art territory. Miller enhances this with asides along the way, in a more normal narrative voice.

“No Real Reason” is a showcase for an amusing and developing comedy talent. It’s not quite at the heights of a classic that inspires multiple repeat viewings, but Miller does succeed at entertaining an audience.

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