Critic Reviews

Surely parts of this special will prove polarizing. “You think I like what happened on Oct. 7?” he asks. “It’s why we’ve been talking about Palestine our whole lives.” But this is a nuanced work of art, not a post on Instagram. The uncomfortable question of the effectiveness of political violence does hover around its edges, as does the tradition of nonviolence.

Throughout More Feelings, Youssef’s carefully paced, casually delivered jokes are the framework for his own clear-eyed observations. This isn’t just a comedy special, but a call to recognize and honor our shared humanity.

Youssef might not change your mind specifically about whom you’re voting for or what side you’re on politically, but hopefully he’ll get you thinking about how you engage with your friends, your families, and even with strangers, whether you’re on Instagram or at Olive Garden.

The Ramy Youssef we see in “More Feelings” is a genuine, brilliant and calming presence who makes us laugh a lot, think quite a bit and maybe even feel a little bit better about how we still have much in common despite all our differences, and we should hold onto that.