Matt Rife: Lucid review: Rife raises the roof in this free-flowing Netflix special

Matt Rife: Lucid - A Crowd Work Special premiered on Netflix on August 13, 2024, marking a milestone as Netflix's first-ever crowd work special. The show's official synopsis reads:

“In Netflix's first-ever crowd work special, Matt Rife gets up close and personal with an unpredictable Charlotte audience to riff on all things dreams.”

Rife’s meteoric rise in comedy has been largely driven by his masterful crowd work, which has been amply showcased in many clips on various social media platforms. Matt Rife: Lucid shows his exquisite chemistry with the audience and his dynamic handling of this unscripted Netflix special.

Even though there are some false notes here and there in Matt Rife: Lucid, the humor and atmosphere are adequately maintained by Rife’s witty and timely interventions.

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Matt Rife: Lucid demonstrates Rife’s smooth crowd work

As the Netflix special begins, Rife tells the Charlotte audience that the place means a lot to him since he has performed here since he was 16. As the crowd applauds the rising comedian, he lays bare the theme of the show, dreams:

“As much as this is gonna be a crowd work special, I do wanna stick with one theme … “dreams.” I’ve chosen this theme because it is very special to me, considering it’s not lost on me at all that I’m one of the very few people who gets to live their dream.”

The young comedian starts with a humble anecdote about how he is blessed to be doing what he loves doing and how his dream of becoming a fighter pilot was shattered when he found out he had poor vision. As he narrates his life story, he asks the crowd to share theirs.

Matt Rife: Lucid is a lesson in crowd work. Marketed as Netflix's first-ever crowd work special, it lives up to the hype, showcasing Rife’s skilled interactions with the crowd.

Rife is both a patient and opportunistic listener; he lets the audience members finish their stories at their pace, but he also cleverly interjects and interrupts to plant a well-timed joke.

For example, when a woman opens up about her dream of being a special needs teacher, Rife asks her why she would specifically like to be a special needs teacher. When the woman tries to pick an answer, he offers one himself: “Easier?”

The crowd erupts into a fit of laughter. Yet Rife’s only intention is not to shock with dark humor; he seems genuinely interested in hearing about others. Why else would he thank that same woman for picking such a noble and selfless profession when she is done with her story?

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Crowd work is no easy task unless the one doing it is Matt Rife

Matt Rife: Lucid has its strengths and weaknesses, both stemming from its nature as a crowd work special. The funniest moments often come from the live audience of the show, and Rife is ready to give space to those who are funny.

For instance, while listening to a woman who is a pilot, Rife asks the woman what the fastest way to becoming a pilot is. Someone from the front row quickly quips, “Blowjob!” Rife smiles, saying, “I didn’t say that.”

At the same time, the weakest moments of Matt Rife: Lucid also come from the crowd interactions. Some of the stories drag down the momentum of the event, while others are simply told by poor storytellers.

One woman, in particular, raises her hand and then meanders with her story, going off in different directions incoherently. At one point, she even stands up and starts interrupting the flow of the event.

However, even these mishaps are converted into fertile opportunities by Rife, as he comes up with timely put-downs and comments, and salvages the moments. For instance, he sternly asks this lady to sit down, calling her Joaquin Phoenix from The Joker.

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Matt Rife: Lucid suffers at times due to its unscripted nature and over-reliance on the audience. Nevertheless, it is a must-watch for fans of witty crowd work. Matt Rife: Lucid is streaming on Netflix.