HOLLYWOOD – There is a sense of exhaustive familiarity that permeates throughout Taylor Hackford’s new dramedy “The Comedian.” That’s not a very funny way to describe a movie about a veteran comedian still living in the shadow of his greatest sitcom success, but then again the movie, which had its world premiere at AFI FEST 2016, isn’t very funny either.
A longtime passion project of star Robert De Niro and producer and co-screenwriter Art Linson, “The Comedian” centers on Jackie Burke (De Niro), a stand up comedian in his late 60’s (he’s either 67, 70 or somewhere in between) who is struggling to keep his career on an upward trajectory. When we first meet Jackie, he’s been pushed into headlining a night of former TV stars somewhere on the outskirts of New York City on a bill with Jimmie Walker and Brett Butler. His set is quickly hijacked by a couple trying to make a name for themselves with a viral web series and before you know it Jackie has lost his cool (you immediately recognize he’s one of those guys) and ends up in court for assault. Following a 30-day jail sentence Jackie is forced to serve community service at a local homeless shelter. That’s where he meets Harmony (Leslie Mann giving this material a more committed performance than it deserves), a woman who is also doing service thanks to her anger issues. And, yes, their eventual (and awkward) relationship is telegraphed the minute they appear on screen together.
The rest of the plot is very much “been there, done that.” Jackie is desperate for a break in his career. He has a viral video moment (actually, spoiler alert, he has three) and then torpedoes a pitch meeting with a development executive. In fact, he ruins a chance at one gig after or another, but somehow keeps getting new opportunities. Why? Because he’s the “legendary” Jackie Burke! That’s why. Oh, and despite her insistence they will never be more than friends he somehow seduces Harmony with his biting comedic wit that’s obviously just a front for an insecure guy who can’t stop searching for that next laugh.*
*This is all conjecture of course. The movie never validates any of this and assumes you’ll figure it out yourself.
Despite its obvious storyline, Hackford and De Niro could — in theory — still find a way to transform the picture into an entertaining 2 hours. There is a cast of great veteran actors including Danny DeVito and Patti LuPone as Jackie’s brother and combative sister-in-law. Harvey Keitel (in full on Miami required spray tan) is game as Harmony’s somewhat classless father. And, sure, Eddie Falco ends up being wasted as Jackie’s manager, but its still Eddie Falco, right? De Niro and Hackford also recruit a ton of famous standups to make cameos or play small parts including Billy Crystal, Hannibal Buress, Jim Norton and Charles Grodin (still got it at 81-years-old), among others. As with most narrative movies about standup comedians though it doesn’t feel very authentic.
Noted standup Jeffrey Ross came on board to co-write the screenplay with Linson, Lewis Friedman and Richard LaGravenese and you can hear his brash comedic style in Jackie’s bits throughout the movie. And, on paper, it probably seemed like a good fit. In context, it isn’t. Very few of Jackie’s stage jokes land and when they do they illicit a smile more than an audible laugh. Hackford does his best to limit a “laugh track” on the movie, but when Jackie is supposedly hitting it the on screen audience’s reactions never feel legitimate.
Truthfully, the only reason to even watch “The Comedian” is for Cloris Leachman’s approximately five minutes of screen time. The 90-year-old legend plays a TV icon being roasted by the Friar’s Club and steals the entire movie. But, frankly, you have to endure a lot to get there. [C]