‘Marcello Hernandez: American Boy’ Tells a Not-so Tall Tale

In his new Netflix stand-up special titled “Marcello Hernandez: American Boy,” Miami-born and bred comedian Marcello Hernandez reflects on his upbringing and lessons learned from the women in his life with an energetic, gravelly voice and severe ADD for which he “never got the pills.”

The set, released Jan. 7, opens with shots of Hernandez with family and friends, as “Después de la Playa” by Bad Bunny plays in the background as his mother, Isabel Canela introduces him. 

With a bold and confident swagger, Hernandez introduces himself by telling the tale of his Latino upbringing in Miami. 

From quick-witted jokes about that one uncle who slips you whiskey to the ballad of a skinny kid, Hernandez expressed pride and reverence for his culture. His special details the relatable experience of growing up Latino. 

The title “American Boy” boldly challenges the stereotypical blond-haired, blue-eyed image of an American with a loud, hyper Latino with a boyish charm and suave flow. 

As a male comic, it’s practically his birthright to joke about women and their “complexities.” Hernandez prefaces that he “lived in a house full of women” and “has seen too much.” Launching into a flurry of jokes about “the blood” and the chaos that ensues when leaving the house, Hernandez shows his expertise with care, not harping on women as a punchline. 

As a cast member on “Saturday Night Live,” Hernandez isn’t unknown, nor should he be rusty. In between the live show and filming an ungodly amount of T-Mobile ads, he performs his stand-up on tour. Despite his experience, there’s an element of smoothness missing from his special. 

Physical humor is a staple of his comedy, and when it’s exaggerated and accurate, it lands spectacularly. 

He seems to deliver his best lines without trying. His animated and blunt jokes criticizing the parenting choices on “Full House” and discussing “the skinniest” thing he’s ever done stand out among the dime-a-dozen jokes about women, having a single mother and Latin American culture.

Teetering on the edge between overeliance and appreciation of Latin culture, Hernandez is at a point in his career where he must decide whether he will play a caricature of his culture, or be an observer of it in his comedy.

It appears that Hernandez has chosen a caricature. With recent impressions of Sebastian Maniscalco on “Saturday Night Live” it seems like his choice may have been made.

At times, though, the comedian is repetitive and nervous, lacking the edge and control stand-up comics typically have. 

Commonly developed by the first full-length special, the mastery of his set should be apparent. Peers of Hernandez have shown mastery of their content in their first special, yet he lacks this mastery, adding a nervous energy which can detract from his jokes. 

What he lacks in control, he makes up for in personality.  

Hernandez has a charm unmatched by other comedians of his generation. His personality is inviting and bright, keeping the viewer’s eyes on him, not his stumbles.

“Marcello Hernandez: American Boy” is streaming on Netflix.