It’s very hard to resist being persuaded by Russell Brand. His calls for revolution may lack detail, but they are full of the passion, humour and energy that has inspired so many.

At the same time you get the sense that as committed as Brand is to erasing inequality, this new politics is simply the latest outlet for his cosmic ego. The thing is, he knows it better than anybody.

Timoner embraces Brand’s contradictions with a comprehensive portrait from hell-raiser to revolutionary. It’s full of his most entertaining moments, but reads like a ‘Best-of’ clip show at times.

At best, Brand: A Second Coming feels like the comedy counterpart to the tragedy of his noughties contemporary, Amy. At worst, it’s like riding shotgun on the Brand ego machine.

RATING: 4/5

INFORMATION

CAST: Russell Brand, Noel Gallagher, Simon Amstell, Jeremy Paxman, Barbara Brand, Jon Noel

DIRECTOR: Ondi Timoner

WRITER: Ondi Timoner

SYNOPSIS: Follows comedian/activist Russell Brand as he dives headlong into drugs, sex & fame in an attempt to find happiness, only to realise that our culture feeds us bad ideas and empty idols.