When screenwriter Art Linson wrote The Comedian all the way back in 2011, there was one name that was consistently attached to the film, Robert De Niro. Directors and cast members have come and gone but regardless, De Niro was still attached to the film. De Niro spent several months studying and working on his stand-up act in order to prepare for the role. Needless to say, that this is certainly a passion project of his. Was De Niro’s passion project worth the long wait or should De Niro have retired The Comedian?
I’m sure back in 2011, The Comedian would’ve been a great film but unfortunately, The Comedian just feels dated now. Whatever reasoning there was to hold off on the film until now was clearly a mistake. The jokes and scenarios should’ve been updated but for some reason, The Comedian was kept the same.
The Comedian follows Jackie Burke (Robert De Niro) who is attempting to reinvent himself and put his classic television character behind him. After assaulting an audience member, Jackie is sentenced to community service where he meets Harmony (Leslie Mann) who changes his life forever.
You would think that a film that’s titled The Comedian would be filled with hilarious moments but alas, it’s not. Because De Niro has been trying to get this film made for several years, the stand-up jokes that were written for him are really dated. Jackie Burke’s shock material never hits the right notes and those that do are few and far between. Art Linson, Jeffrey Ross, Richard LaGravenese, and Lewis Friedman’s script often feels so miserably retrograde that younger viewers like myself will eye-roll at the mockery of younger crowds. From its meager understanding of viral videos to its old-school throwback to the Friars Club roasts, the film seems to be out of touch with the world, in general.
This is in part due to Taylor Hackford’s directorial style as he never puts much flair into Burke’s stand-up. In fact, he doesn’t really put much flair into the film at all. It’s a very dry film that’s devoid of any personality and heart. Hackford doesn’t really find that balance between drama and comedy either. The characters never develop and the film never gives you a reason to attach yourself to these characters. So, when the film delves into the melodramatic parts then you’re not invested in it.
Considering this is De Niro’s long awaited passion project, De Niro gives it his all as Jackie Burke. Despite the mediocre comic material, De Niro has surprisingly good comedic timing despite a lack of experience at being a comic. Not only that but De Niro conveys some of the same qualities that you see in real life comics. He reads the room and slings insults. If a joke doesn’t fly, then he doesn’t dwell on it and moves on to the next joke. When De Niro stops being a jerk on-stage, he gives an affectionate performance that meshes well with Leslie Mann. The problem is that De Niro’s so good at playing Jackie as a jerk that you’re not sure whether to like him or hate him.
Speaking of Leslie Mann, she shows a completely different side of her than we haven’t seen in previous roles. Instead her usual quirky characters, she plays a more realistic role. Not surprising since this is practically her most fleshed out role yet. Danny DeVito gives a warm and affectionate performance whenever he’s on screen. Harvey Keitel provides a solid performance as Harmony’s sleazy, overbearing father. He’s so good that you’ll like to dislike Keitel’s character. Especially when he interacts with his “brother,” Robert De Niro. The entire cast plays off each other nicely as this kind of dysfunctional family.
Overall, The Comedian is a pedestrian dramedy that may have been made several years too late. Audiences might not enjoy De Niro and Mann’s age-inappropriate relationship either but their strong performances should overpower that on-screen awkwardness. Besides who can resist De Niro spitting out insults as a stand-up comic.
Rating: 2.5/5 atoms
from Nerd Reactor
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