In April 2023, Jamie Foxx skilled a critical medical complication and was hospitalized in Atlanta, the place he was in a coma for some three weeks. As Foxx explains within the exhilarating and inspirational and hilarious and poignant Netflix particular “Jamie Foxx: What Had Occurred Was …,” when he emerged from the coma, the following step was a stint on the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab in Chicago.
“They flew me to Chicago for my rehab, Chi-town,” Foxx tells the adoring and enthusiastic viewers as he instructions the Coca-Cola Stage on the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta, wanting each inch the megastar in his buttery leather-based ensemble with a gold medallion, shifting concerning the stage with grace and energy. “They took care of me, Shirley Ryan …”
Foxx shares how he was wallowing in an echo chamber of self-pity, narcissism and denial, refusing to work with bodily therapists (“I’m Jamie Foxx, I don’t want no f- – -ing therapists, why did this s- – – even occur to me within the first place?”), regardless that he might barely stroll a step on his personal. Enter a therapist named Holly, who based on Foxx advised him: “You gotta knock this s- – – off. This entire ‘Jamie Foxx’ s- – -. Cease this smug bulls- – -. That stroke doesn’t give a f- – – about who you might be. I’m Holly, motherf- – – – -.’ ”
The therapeutic started.
‘Jamie Foxx: What Had Occurred Was …’
Now, that story is likely to be hyperbolic and even apocryphal, however a Chicago therapist named Holly telling Jamie Foxx to knock it off so they may get to work positive rings true to me. Overlook about robust love; the Chicago method is, “You need love? Robust. We’re right here to repair you.”
Taped over the course of three exhibits in early October, with Foxx additionally writing and government producing, “Jamie Foxx: What Had Occurred Was …” is a component stand-up particular, half confessional, half setting-the-record straight and a complete lot of church, with Foxx giving all due to God all through the present and even enlisting the viewers to function choir as he sings, “God is nice, on a regular basis …”
In an Instagram message posted in mid-October, Foxx famous he hadn’t been on stage in this sort of format in 18 years, however “when folks ask me is that this a stand-up comedy present I say no it’s a creative clarification.” That sounds about proper. As is the case with any one-person present, “What Had Occurred Was …” is an unapologetic ego journey; at one level, Foxx goes by way of a slideshow of a few of his most well-known roles and even recites a well-known line or two.
That’s the factor, although; if anybody deserves a one-person celebration of their life and profession, it’s Jamie Foxx, particularly given what he’s been by way of. In a little bit over an hour, Foxx reminds us that he’s a pure raconteur, a superb mimic (he kills with impersonations of Wesley Snipes, Denzel Washington, Katt Williams and Donald Trump, amongst others), and a proficient musician whose voice sounds stronger than ever.
Foxx additionally addresses the insane rumors and conspiracy theories surrounding his unspecified sickness, which was shrouded in secrecy as a result of his sister and his daughter valued his privateness and didn’t need his followers to see him whereas he was in restoration. “The Web stated that Puffy tried to kill me,” he says. “I do know what you’re considering: Did he? Hell naw. … I left them events early. I used to be out by NINE.”
Additionally: “You motherf- – – – -s actually thought I used to be a clone!” Foxx exclaims. “There ain’t sufficient clone juice on the earth to clone me.” With the display screen behind him displaying Foxx on a boat on the Chicago River, he says the Web reacted to the image by saying, “That ain’t no godd- – – Jamie. That’s a clone’ … after which they noticed me leap out of a black automobile to save lots of a Black girl’s purse … and what did the Web say? ‘That ain’t no godd- – – Jamie. That’s a clone.’ And then you definitely noticed me with a white woman: ‘THAT’S Jamie.’ ”
This leads right into a flat-out humorous musical quantity by which Foxx claims to have given up white girls, singing, “No extra white ladies, no extra potato salad and raisins … no extra spray tan … no extra white girls, no extra white ladies …
“In public.”
That is additionally a great-looking and expertly edited particular, with director Hamish Hamilton discovering good crowd response pictures to sprinkle in. At occasions the backdrop options pictures from Foxx’s life and profession, or graphics resembling an EKG monitor. A reside band gives musical accompaniment for some good and shifting musical interludes, together with an look by Foxx’s guitar-playing daughter, Anelise, and if you may make it by way of that second with out being moved, you may want the companies of Holly the therapist to get your blood pumping once more.
The Emmys have a class for Excellent Selection Particular, whereas the Golden Globes not too long ago launched the class of Finest Efficiency in a Stand-Up Comedy on Tv. It’d behoove Jamie Foxx to clear a little bit additional area on the mantle for some new trophies.
