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IMDbPro

The Comedian

  • 20162016
  • RR
  • 2h
IMDb RATING
5.8/10
7.5K
YOUR RATING
Robert De Niro in The Comedian (2016)
Trailer for The Comedian
Play trailer2:39
8 Videos
42 Photos
ComedyDramaRomance
A look at the life of an aging insult comic named Jack Burke.A look at the life of an aging insult comic named Jack Burke.A look at the life of an aging insult comic named Jack Burke.
IMDb RATING
5.8/10
7.5K
YOUR RATING
    • Taylor Hackford
  • Writers
    • Art Linson(screenplay by)
    • Jeffrey Ross(screenplay by)
    • Richard LaGravenese(screenplay by)
  • Stars
    • Robert De Niro
    • Leslie Mann
    • Danny DeVito
    • Taylor Hackford
  • Writers
    • Art Linson(screenplay by)
    • Jeffrey Ross(screenplay by)
    • Richard LaGravenese(screenplay by)
  • Stars
    • Robert De Niro
    • Leslie Mann
    • Danny DeVito
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 80User reviews
    • 76Critic reviews
    • 40Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards

    Videos8

    The Comedian
    Trailer 2:39
    Watch The Comedian
    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:35
    Watch Official Trailer
    Clip
    Clip 1:32
    Watch Clip
    Clip
    Clip 1:35
    Watch Clip
    Clip
    Clip 1:02
    Watch Clip
    Clip
    Clip 1:52
    Watch Clip
    Danny
    Clip 1:24
    Watch Danny
    Pro Res H Q
    Clip 1:30
    Watch Pro Res H Q

    Photos42

    Robert De Niro and Leslie Mann in The Comedian (2016)
    Robert De Niro in The Comedian (2016)
    Robert De Niro and Harvey Keitel in The Comedian (2016)
    Robert De Niro and Leslie Mann in The Comedian (2016)
    Danny DeVito and Patti LuPone in The Comedian (2016)
    Cloris Leachman in The Comedian (2016)
    Robert De Niro and Leslie Mann in The Comedian (2016)
    Judd Apatow and Iris Apatow at an event for The Comedian (2016)
    Robert De Niro at an event for The Comedian (2016)
    Cloris Leachman at an event for The Comedian (2016)
    Robert De Niro at an event for The Comedian (2016)
    Helen Mirren at an event for The Comedian (2016)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Robert De Niro
    Robert De Niro
    • Jackie Burke
    Leslie Mann
    Leslie Mann
    • Harmony Schiltz
    Danny DeVito
    Danny DeVito
    • James Berkowitz
    Edie Falco
    Edie Falco
    • Miller
    Harvey Keitel
    Harvey Keitel
    • Mac Schiltz
    Patti LuPone
    Patti LuPone
    • Florie Berkowitz
    Charles Grodin
    Charles Grodin
    • Dick D'Angelo
    Cloris Leachman
    Cloris Leachman
    • May Connor
    Lucy DeVito
    Lucy DeVito
    • Brittany Berkowitz
    Billy Crystal
    Billy Crystal
    • Billy Crystal
    Veronica Ferres
    Veronica Ferres
    • Karola
    Lois Smith
    Lois Smith
    • Miriam
    Marylouise Burke
    Marylouise Burke
    • Adele
    Stewart Steinberg
    Stewart Steinberg
    • Bernie
    Tom Morrissey
    • Herman
    Brett Butler
    Brett Butler
    • Brett Butler
    Ben Hammer
    Ben Hammer
    • Benjamin
    Jessica Kirson
    • Jessica Kirson
      • Taylor Hackford
    • Writers
      • Art Linson(screenplay by) (story by)
      • Jeffrey Ross(screenplay by)
      • Richard LaGravenese(screenplay by)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Robert De Niro was trained by comedian Jessica Kirson, and adopted one of her signature "moves": talking to herself sotto voce while turned away from the audience. He didn't take the move quite as far, preferring to cover his face with his hand while turning slightly to one side. Kirson appears in the film longer than any other stand-up comic, but she is not shown using this technique.
    • Goofs
      Cloris Leachman's character is named "Conner" in the film but spelled "Connor" in the end credits.
    • Quotes

      Harmony Schiltz: My dad used to love your TV show. We've watched every episode.

      Jackie Burke: Always nice to meet a fan.

      Harmony Schiltz: Yeah. Well, we just had the one TV.

    • Connections
      Featured in The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon: Leslie Mann/Jonathan Groff/Fallonventions/Machine Gun Kelly & Camila Cabello (2016)
    • Soundtracks
      Eddie's Home
      Performed by Gary Schreiner

      Written by Taylor Hackford and Lewis Friedman

    User reviews80

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    It's Not Awful but It Is a Complete Misfire
    The Comedian (2016)

    ** (out of 4)

    Former TV star Jackie Burke (Robert DeNiro) is now performing in small and useless clubs where his profane and offensive act really isn't going over any more. After an altercation with a heckler, Jackie finds himself doing community service where he meets a young woman (Leslie Mann) and soon them two kick it off as the comedian finds more and more going wrong in his life.

    Can someone explain how a movie director by Taylor Hackford with a cast that includes DeNiro, Mann, Harvey Keitel, Danny DeVito, Charles Grodin, Cloris Leachman and Billy Crystal could turn out so lifeless? I mean, how on Earth can you get such talent in one movie and the end result be so bad? I've heard that the film was booed and had several walk-outs during its premiere in Toronto. I'm not sure how try that is but if so that's a bit harsh because the movie isn't that bad but at the same time it is incredibly disappointing and rather pointless.

    This was apparently a dream project for DeNiro who spent several years trying to get it off the ground. People have given the actor a lot of crap over the past decade or so for his willingness to do any film for a check. I will never put someone down for wanting to make money and the actor has appeared in some lousy movies and some others that he was just lending his name to for a check but he always delivered a performance and made those films better. For the first time in his career I think he's the reason a movie is bad.

    Sadly, DeNiro just isn't very good here and there's no question that he just wasn't right for the role. I'm really not sure what the screenplay was trying to do or say but it just doesn't work and the entire film just seems rather pointless. DeNiro is certainly giving it an A+ effort but there's just no soul or anything to the character. DeNiro is actually pretty boring in the part and he just wasn't believable as this washed up comic. This here shocked me because I think the actor can do comedy and he's played a comedian before in the masterpiece THE KING OF COMEDY. It just doesn't work here and it's really too bad.

    The only time his performance really sparks is a sequence where he and Keitel go after one another. If you're a fan of the early films they did together then you'll get a kick out of seeing them battle again. Mann was good in her supporting role as was Grodin, Leachman and Crystal in their bit parts. DeVito gets a couple funny moments as well but there's no question that they can't save the film. Yes, even DeNiro has a couple funny bits but there's just no denying that overall the film is a major misfire.

    I'm really not sure what the point of THE COMEDIAN was as the screenplay is all over the place. Is it meant to show us the bottom side of the comedy game? Watch THE WRESTLER, which did a much better job at showing the low points of a profession. Was the romance with Mann supposed to mean something? If so, what when you've got DeNiro and her father (Keitel) fighting like a romantic comedy? There's a dramatic twist in the story at the end. What was the point? What was the point of the DeNiro character being so unlikable? THE COMEDIAN isn't an awful film. It's slightly entertaining and the cast will at least keep you glued to what's going on but there's no doubt that the film is just a major bust.
    helpful•28
    22
    • Michael_Elliott
    • Feb 6, 2017

    Details

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    • Release date
      • February 3, 2017 (United States)
      • United States
      • English
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • Da Mikele Illagio, Queens, New York City, New York, USA
    • Production companies
      • Cinelou Films
      • Linson Entertainment
      • Anvil Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • 2 hours
      • Color

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