Damian Clark: Stand UP

Former balloon factory worker Damian Clark loves the film UP – the Pixar blockbuster about a former balloon salesman who floats off on a grand adventure. Having just emigrated across the world himself, Clark touches down in Edinburgh, celebrating life’s own little adventures.

He offers an inoffensive batch of observations about subjects like household pets and different cultures. There’s nothing you haven’t heard before, but it gets by on the basic enjoyment of recognition and Clark’s sunny disposition. Sporadic pieces of prop work, meanwhile, aren't really worth the handicraft.

Clark has a buoyant style that makes his routines palatable, even if it can’t quite hide the absence of killer lines.  While telling sweet stories from his life—including his own romantic journey from Australia to Ireland—he is endearing in the extreme. Towords the end, though, this tends more often towards cornball sentimentality.

Indeed, Clark could generally do with a bit of grounding. His lack of venom means he can’t deal with tonight's drunken and increasingly irritating hecklers, and he is so friendly he frequently goes back to engage them in conversation. His occasional quotes from UP, not the most well-known film among those over the age of 12, can confuse the audience.

The problem is that, while Clark is incredibly likeable, his material is resolutely unadventurous. Stand UP ends up reminiscent of his beloved balloons: fun for a while, but ultimately a tad lightweight and disposable.