COMEDIAN (2002) / ***
Directed by Christian Charles. Starring Jerry Seinfeld, Orny Adams, Colin Quinn. Running time: 82 minutes. This film is not yet rated by the MFCB. Reviewed on January 25th, 2002.
By SHANNON PATRICK SULLIVAN
Synopsis: Fresh from the success of his sitcom, comedian Jerry Seinfeld decided to do the unimaginable: he completely retired his stand-up act, electing to start over again by developing entirely new material. "Comedian" follows Seinfeld through this process, as he rehearses in front of small comedy club audiences, meets with fellow comics -- including Colin Quinn, Robert Klein, Jay Leno, Chris Rock, Garry Shandling and Bill Cosby -- and finally appears before a national audience.
Review: "Comedian" is a curious film, one which takes an occupation whose raison d'etre is to make people laugh, and paints it as a grim, depressing career move. The focus is on Jerry Seinfeld, and in this respect the timing of director Charles is fortuitous. By capturing Seinfeld at a crossroads in his career, Charles depicts him in a more vulnerable and unusual position than likely would ever otherwise be possible. Plenty of laughs result, from both the depictions of Seinfeld's actual routine and his efforts to develop a new act. One of the film's most memorable shots is of Seinfeld, on stage at a comedy club, completely freezing up in the middle of his routine: he's completely lost track of what he's supposed to say next. "Comedian" is an insightful look at the process of stand-up comedy, reminding us that this is a process which takes months, even years, and involves a seemingly endless cycle of refinement. But "Comedian" never really looks past that, never makes even a tacit effort to probe beneath the surface and examine the mentality of the stand-up comic. Segments involving up-and-comer Orny Adams -- painted here as an egocentric jerk -- are most promising in this regard, but Adams abruptly disappears from the film two-thirds of the way through. Entertaining as it is, then, "Comedian" represents something of a missed opportunity.
Copyright © 2003 Shannon Patrick Sullivan. Archived at The Popcorn Gallery, http://www.physics.mun.ca/~sps/movies.html
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