Do you know what is a good joke? Robert de Niro’s recent film choices.
Sad to say, but an actor of his caliber should be making high quality stuff every chance he gets. And yet lately his career has descended into more gross out comedies that make you squirm rather than laugh. Which is why De Niro starring as a stand-up comedian in The Comedian leaves me wondering if the jokes on him this time.
Whereas whenever Meryl Streep stars in something you are almost certain it’s going to be awards worthy performance, its quite the opposite for De Niro whose name is more an indication of movies to avoid these days. Though to be fair, last year’s The Intern was watchable, though unremarkable.
The Comedian, does sound like it has potential though. The film is directed by Taylor Hackford and features a supporting cast that includes Billy Crystal, Danny DeVito, Eddie Falco, Veronica Ferres, Charles Grodin, Cloris Leachman, Patti LuPone, Lois Smith, and Harvey Keitel. With the names like that, it should be good right?:
To be honest, the film seems too dull for my liking. It’s obviously more drama than comedy, but I would’ve still liked something a little sharper on both fronts. Despite the stellar cast, it seems like we are in for more awkwardness than real humour here. Even seeing him take on a darker portrayal like in Martin Scorsese’s The King of Comedy would’ve been more appealing.
Sadly it seems we will have to wait a little longer before we see any form of resurgence from the legendary actor. The Comedian hasn’t got stellar reviews so far in its early viewings, but will only be making its way to theatres early next year so we won’t really know for sure until then.
The official synopsis of the film is as follows:
An aging comic icon, Jackie, has seen better days. Despite his efforts to reinvent himself and his comic genius, the audience only wants to know him as the former television character he once played. Already a strain on his younger brother and his wife, Jackie is forced to serve out a sentence doing community service for accosting an audience member. While there, he meets Harmony (Leslie Mann), the daughter of a sleazy Florida real estate mogul, and the two find inspiration in one another, resulting in surprising consequences.
Last Updated: November 23, 2016
Alien Emperor Trevor
November 23, 2016 at 13:42
This is a comedy my 75 year old mother would love.