If you aren’t familiar with the comedy stylings of Christina P. (and likely many were not up until the release of this Netflix standup special), here’s a taste of what’s in store: “In 1985, more women saw my dad’s d*ck than Ghostbusters.” We review Christina P: Mom Genes.
In the special, Christina P. is nostalgic for the days when Pepé Le Pew wasn’t problematic, aka the 1980’s, a time when mothers had to be reminded that they even had kids. Channeling her inner 1980’s mom, Christina P’s Mom Genes is an extraordinary moment of honesty as it relates to the expectations of motherhood.
Here’s a tiny dose of her honesty: “I had to fart that whole time, but I didn’t out of respect for you.” As this bit might indicate, perhaps much of Mom Genes is a bit too honest?
What to Expect When You’re Expecting Christina P.
Christina’s fans know her best from her podcast, Where My Moms At? But many viewers will remember her for her work on MTV’s Road Rules: Down Under and CBS’s The Little Things. She may not be a household name, but that could change this weekend.
From Sesame Street to parents who mouth-kiss, the comedian wastes no time tearing down any expectation that some topics are off-limits. The Sesame Street bit in particular doesn’t pass any modern sniff test of political correctness and may serve to rub some parents of children with disabilities the wrong way. Yet she doubles down on it later in the special, a move that probably doesn’t add any value other than to shock.
And that it does. But it also undeniably makes the live audience laugh. Home viewers will likely be laughing right along with them, but they may find themselves questioning some bits and whether they should be laughing at all.
That being said, though she may aim to shock first and inspire laughter second, Christina P. is at least an equal opportunity offender who spares literally no one. If Christina worked in corporate office America, she’d be an HR nightmare of epic proportions: Mom Genes says all the quiet parts out loud, an amalgam of every inappropriate thing an unwoke old school mom might say under her breath packed into one hour-long special.
As Christina might put it: “Is there anything worse than a call from the toxic parent?”
What Works
It’s refreshing to see uncut and uncensored standup comedy in 2022. Netflix does get some credit for letting comedians have creative control over their standup specials without interfering with their work.
To that end, Christina’s comedy is brazen. Some comedians might alter their style to fit modern social standards and have lines they will not cross, but not Christina. In Mom Genes, Christina P. succeeds in breaking down any walls the audience may have had, leaving no safe spaces.
What Doesn’t Work
Mom Genes will no doubt be considered controversial by many viewers. While Christina is deft at maneuvering through content that could present as problematic in less capable comedy hands, one does wonder if her style here relies too heavily on the shock factor of jolting viewers out of their comfort zones.
That being said, sometimes the best comedy is the comedy that drags the audience kicking and screaming away from topics they are comfortable with.
Another element of Mom Genes that might not land with all viewers is how heavily she leans into 1980’s nostalgia. Once you get her going on the Reagan era, it’s pure member berry for Christina P. Though she may be fond of the era, many viewers may not have been alive at the time, and those that were may not share her whimsical enthusiasm.
Bottom Line
Without a doubt, Christina P.’s jokes aren’t for everyone. But with the rapid-fire pace of Mom Genes, there’s certainly never a dull moment.
Here’s one last taste: “Because I’ve squeezed people out of me, every time I cough, I pee just a tiny little bit.”
Try on Christina P.’s Mom Genes for yourself. The special is now streaming on Netflix.
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