Alexis de Anda Takes Us To Church In Spanish Stand-Up Special ‘Mea Culpa’

Netflix’s stand-up specials seem to be dropping weekly, and their most recent, Mea Culpa, stands out from the rest. As the platform continues to expand internationally, so does their taste in comedy, and thanks to that, we have Alexis de Anda: Mea Culpa, a brand new stand-up special from the Mexican comedienne. While the entire special is delivered in Spanish, de Anda’s infectious on-stage persona and outrageous jokes will make you forget you’re reading subtitles and maybe even convince you you’re fluent in Spanish.

It’s hard to compare de Anda to any American counterparts, but there are definitely touches of Amy Schumer and Jen Kirkman in her work. After a prayer (and a dab), de Anda begins her set with a bit about weddings and the phenomenon that sees women abandon all forms of feminism when it’s time for the bouquet toss, and she isn’t afraid to dive into things physically. From there, there is no holding back – de Anda tells all about her newfound interest in exercise (and the parts of her body that will never change), the terror of holding in a fart during yoga class, and checking Instagram while driving (and pretty much everywhere else).

There are certainly some moments in Mea Culpa that may have you double-taking; some of de Anda’s jokes (specifically race-related bits) feel outdated and tone-deaf, but she recovers – and hopefully, will grow from these kinds of jokes in the future. She also pokes fun at Syria, anal sex, drugs, and gynecology, and her willingness to make fun of her own slutty behavior makes for some of the most entertaining parts of the special.

If you’ve never experienced a stand-up special in Spanish before, this is a pretty good place to start. While certain stories may elicit the occasional jaw-drop, de Anda soars through every single embarrassing bit with a sense of self-deprecation that makes her even more likable. She might toe the line sometimes, but what comedian doesn’t?

Stream Mea Culpa on Netflix