| There’s nothing funny about creating stand-up comedy. Even the greatest of performers have suffered from serious bouts of funnyman depression, and it’s widely reported that stand-ups have a higher suicide rate than those in many other professions.
No one commits suicide in the documentary Comedian, but the symptoms of self-destruction are made crystal clear. Filmmakers Christian Charles and Gary Streiner (who shot Jerry Seinfeld’s American Express commercials) spent more than a year following Seinfeld as he returned to his stand-up roots – they captured more than 600 hours of hand-held cam footage, and the result is a nervously paced, mostly audible film about the ups (way up) and downs (way down) of the comedy circuit.
Seinfeld fans should be forewarned: Comedian is not a concert. In fact, Seinfeld sort of bookends the film as he tests out new material on unsuspecting audiences, beginning with, "What am I doing here? I had my own show." The film’s real one-liners come from Seinfeld’s offstage interactions with other comedians, including veterans Bill Cosby and Jay Leno. Comedy buddies Colin Quinn, Chris Rock and Robert Klein are also in for the ride, but the co-star who takes centre stage is the self-flagellating, idiosyncratic Orny Adams, an ambitious climber with the inability to be happy.
As a sort of parallel to Seinfeld, Adams unknowingly provides the "don’t" in the dos and don’ts of comedy decorum. We’re never sure if the hotshot is being carelessly ballsy or generously candid, but we’re thankful he’s there, at least for making us uncomfortable enough to learn more about Comedy 101.
And there’s the setup for the downside: Adams is such an asshole in this film that Seinfeld seems to be the only one who can "show us the way" to respectability. Fortunately, Seinfeld earns some modesty through his love of George Carlin, and a sincere and moving scene backstage with Cosby, where we see Seinfeld melt in Cosby’s presence. Finally, we see Seinfeld’s own agony, driving home after a seemingly flawless performance. "I make no excuses," he says. "I just wasn't good."
Simply put, even if Comedian isn’t perfect, it is a good reminder that we are our own worst critics. Facing scrutiny over new material, an ever-changing audience and the demands of ambition, Seinfeld leaves one wondering why he left his successful series to return to the fray of smoke-filled clubs. But then, let’s face it – his stand-up routine at the beginning of Seinfeld was the reason the show’s ratings went up in the first place, and as Comedian demonstrates, the real stuff of nonsense is that moment onstage between funnyman and audience.
Comedian will be released on DVD on May 13. Jerry Seinfeld will appear at the Jubilee Auditorium in Calgary on August 23. |
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