Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond – With a Very Special, Contractually Obligated Mention of Tony Clifton is a behind-the-scenes look at how Jim Carrey adopted the persona of idiosyncratic comedian Andy Kaufman on the set of Man on the Moon (1999).
Yes. This documentary has one of the most awkward titles ever, but what’s one to do, really? I’m a Jim Carey fan, so I just have to make sure I watch Man On The Moon before I see this. That way, I’ll also get to learn about Kaufman, a man I’ve heard of before, but know very little about.
I recall someone saying that The Comedian, a comedy starring Robert De Niro, Harvey Keitel, Danny DeVito and Leslie Mann wasn’t great. This surprised me considering the very talented cast. I of course watched it anyway and can say that there were moments where I laughed and smiled.
Directed by Taylor Hackford and with De Niro playing a sort of lovable rogue in the shape of an ageing insult comic named Jack Burke, I wouldn’t call this film one of the most memorable movies in De Niro’s filmography. It reminded me a little of what I love most about Larry David’s Curb Your Enthusiasm; a situation comedy series where Larry David plays a version of himself. David’s character says what he truly thinks and does precisely as he wishes even if it makes everyone around him, especially his loved ones extremely uncomfortable therefore keeping them in an almost constant state of ‘suffering’ – to great comic effect.
The Comedian is no where near as funny as Curb but it was tolerable enough for me to watch the entire thing. If anything about this moviecan be described as forced, it’s perhaps the comedy element. When considering the events that take place in the film and how they unfold, I certainly wouldn’t describe much of it as ‘bursting at the seams with cliches’ at least not from my pesrpective – and that’s a good thing.
Greta Gerwig , Zosia Mamet and Danny DeVito are he stars of Wiener Dog, a new comedy about a dog’s journey as it travels around the country spreading joy.
Looking at the photo above, it’s clear that the joy on offer is needed quite urgently.
The last movie I saw starring Gerwig was Mistress America (2015), and unfortunately, it turned out to be more fun in trailer form. Still, I’m going to remain very hopeful about this one.
