A Wiser, More Reflective Martin Lawrence Still Has Comic Edge

“Martin Lawrence Live: Runteldat,” the comedian’s latest concert film, was shot in Washington, D.C.’s Constitution Hall, whose use was once denied to contralto Marian Anderson. Clearly, we’ve come a long way since 1939, for as always, Lawrence is a no-holds-barred stand-up comedian who gets away with the strongest, most graphic language because he is so funny and because he makes himself the object of so much of his humor.

“Runteldat,” Lawrence’s motto, comes from his demand: “Stop the gossip. I’m still here--run tell that!” Lawrence was involved in some well-publicized incidents several years ago that have left him with considerable resentment toward the media and a desire to tell his side. But Lawrence is too shrewd a showman to lead with them, so he opens with his views on a wide range of topics. He’s all for respect for elders and living life to the fullest, but gets hilariously down and dirty when it comes to sex, suggesting among unprintable advice that in relationships couples would be well advised to take a “test drive.”

After a substantial barrage of jokes and opinions, Lawrence gets to the nitty gritty. In 1996 Lawrence caused a ruckus when he walked into traffic at a Ventura Boulevard intersection in Sherman Oaks and started yelling. He was arrested and subsequently hospitalized for dehydration and exhaustion. After beginning an explanation that has him caught in a traffic signal change while rushing to get some take-out food, he stops abruptly and admits he was high, incredibly high, on some unbelievably strong marijuana, which he says he has given up. It didn’t help that he was also packing a pistol.

The ultimately far scarier incident occurred three years later when he suffered severe heat exhaustion as he approached his front lawn after he had been jogging strenuously. He was in a coma for three days. Lawrence conveys eloquently the shock his loved ones experienced and his own surprise once he regained consciousness. He details the indignities of his recovery with outrageous humor as well as reverent gratitude toward a kindly nurse.

It seems Lawrence has reflected deeply upon his down periods. They’ve left him wiser without dulling the sharp edges of his humor. At the end of this deftly structured and well-paced concert film, which was directed by David Raynr, Lawrence concludes with a printed statement of a declaration he repeats throughout the film: “No one is immune to the trials and tribulations of life,” adding the tag, “We are all one.”

MPAA rating: R, for strong crude sexual dialogue and pervasive language. Times guidelines: The language is exceedingly graphic and unsuitable for children.

‘Martin Lawrence Live: Runteldat’

A Paramount Pictures release of an MTV and Runteldat Entertainment presentation. Director David Raynr. Executive producers Martin Lawrence, Robert Lawrence and Van Toffler. Producers Michael Hubbard and Beth Hubbard, and David Gale and Loretha Jones. Cinematographer Daryn Okada. Editor Nicholas Eliopoulos. Production designer Richard Hoover. Running time: 1 hour, 43 minutes.

In general release.