The Comedian (2016)

A look at the life of an aging insult comic named Jack Burke.

Director:

Taylor Hackford

Writers:

Art Linson (screenplay by), Jeffrey Ross (screenplay by) (as Jeff Ross)

Stars:

Robert De Niro, Leslie Mann, Danny DeVito

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Robert De Niro	...	Jackie Burke
Leslie Mann	...	Harmony Schiltz
Harvey Keitel	...	Mac Schiltz
Edie Falco	...	Miller
Danny DeVito	...	James Berkowitz
Patti LuPone	...	Florie Berkowitz
Charles Grodin	...	Dick D'Angelo
Cloris Leachman	...	May Connor
Lucy DeVito	...	Brittany Berkowitz
Billy Crystal	...	Billy Crystal
Veronica Ferres	...	Karola
Lois Smith	...	Miriam
Marylouise Burke	...	Adele
Stewart Steinberg	...	Bernie
Tom Morrissey	...	Herman

Storyline

Jackie (Robert DeNiro) is a comic icon, attempting to reinvent himself despite his audience only wanting to know him as a television character he played earlier in his career. After accosting an audience member, Jackie is sentenced to community service where he meets Harmony Schiltz (Leslie Mann).

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Plot Keywords:

has been | stand up comedy | contempt of court | locked in jail | olive | 

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Taglines:

nobody's a bargain

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Genres:

Comedy

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for crude sexual references and language throughout

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 February 2017 (USA)

Also Known As:

A komikus

Filming Locations:

Da Mikele Illagio, Queens, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$15,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$878,164, 3 February 2017, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$1,658,706, 17 March 2017

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cinelou Films,Linson Entertainment,Anvil Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

120 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

Danny DeVito said that he did not read the whole script of The Comedian. He only read the scenes in which his character appeared.

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Goofs

Cloris Leachman's character is named "Conner" in the film but spelled "Connor" in the end credits.

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Quotes

Jackie Burke: She lost me when she said, We like to think.

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Connections

References Night of the Living Dead (1968)

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Soundtracks

Being Alive
Performed by Bryce Pinkham
Written by Stephen Sondheim

User Reviews

messy raunch

Greetings again from the darkness. It's often seemed as if Robert DeNiro existed in two unrelated cinematic worlds. He's a 7 time Oscar nominee and 2 time winner (The Godfather: Part II, Raging Bull) renowned for his dramatic work, while also seemingly intent on proving he's a funny as he thinks he is. His work in Analyze This, Analyze That, and the Fockers franchise takes "playing against type" to an extreme. This latest is his return, 35 years after The King of Comedy, to playing a stand-up comedian.

Of course Jackie Burke (DeNiro) is no regular comedian. He's pushing 70 years old, has anger issues, no close friends, a strained relationship with his brother (Danny DeVito) and agent (Edie Falco), and fights his popular legacy as "Eddie" from a decades-ago popular sitcom. He strives to be recognized not as Eddie, but as Jackie Burke, the king of insult comics.

That anger lands him in community service where he meets Harmony (Leslie Mann) who is also serving her time. It's kind of creepy to watch the 30 years older dude hit on her, but it's explained away by her 'daddy issues' with Harvey Keitel. Of course, DeNiro and Keitel have a natural rhythm (that spans 5 decades of working together), but it's really DeNiro and Mann who have the best scenes (outside of the unnecessary romantic interlude). Ms. Mann is especially fun to watch and brings a sense of realism to a film that's mostly lacking.

Taylor Hackford directs a script written by a blend of 4 writers: a Producer of Fight Club, a standup comedian, an Oscar nominee for The Fisher King, and a writer best known for the Kennedy Center Honors. It's a weird mix that explains the periodic flashes of genius and the overall mismatched parts.

There are no shortage of familiar faces that pop up, including Billy Crystal, Lois Smith, Jimmie Walker, Brett Butler, and Gilbert Gottfried. Patti LuPone is enjoyable in her role as DeVito's wife and Jackie Burke-hater. It's nice to see Charles Grodin in a Midnight Run reunion with DeNiro, and Cloris Leachman proves that comedy kills in her brief time on screen.

Although there is a more cutesy humor segment at a retirement center when Burke leads the residents through a make-shift version of "Makin' Poopie" set to the rhythm of "Makin' Whoopie", anyone seeing this should be braced for raunchy humor. Lots of raunchy humor. Jackie Burke is an insult comedian in the vein of Don Rickles, only he adds a dash of Jim Norton and Amy Schumer. With all the uncomfortable laughs, it might best be described as that rare film genre – blue humor for the blue hairs.