The first time I saw Andy Kaufman was on the Saturday Night Live 15th anniversary show. In the clips from the first 5 years, they showed a few seconds of his Mighty Mouse thing, and I found it strange and funny. Since then, I've seen him on old Saturday Night Live shows, and comedian specials, and seen a few old Taxi episodes(though I was never a big fan), and found him to be quite strange, but also quite funny. So I was really looking forward to this movie, and I was not disappointed.
I agree with the person who said to try and find out the mystery behind Kaufman would have undoubtedly gotten it wrong. Instead, we get a look inside his art, and if you don't find him funny, you're not going to like this movie(and I have no problem with those who don't like the movie for that reason). Viewers may also be thrown by the fact that the movie, as demonstrated in the opening scene, is a series of "is that real or just a put on?" episodes(in a way, this reminded me of PENN AND TELLER GET KILLED, which is similarly constructed). But it stays true to Kaufman and his performance style, and I found it offbeat and, yes, funny.
I do have a couple of minor quibbles. I don't know the entire story, but there are a couple of facts fudged. For example, the way Kaufman left Saturday Night Live is not quite true(if they had done the true story, it would have been even funnier). Also, Courtney Love is not as good as she was in THE PEOPLE VS. LARRY FLYNT, though she does have moments. But, as I said, those are minor quibbles. Particularly high among the virtues is, of course, Jim Carrey as Kaufman. It took me awhile for him to "disappear" into the role, as so many people said he did, but he is amazing and constantly keeps us off balance and laughing, as does the entire movie.
I agree with the person who said to try and find out the mystery behind Kaufman would have undoubtedly gotten it wrong. Instead, we get a look inside his art, and if you don't find him funny, you're not going to like this movie(and I have no problem with those who don't like the movie for that reason). Viewers may also be thrown by the fact that the movie, as demonstrated in the opening scene, is a series of "is that real or just a put on?" episodes(in a way, this reminded me of PENN AND TELLER GET KILLED, which is similarly constructed). But it stays true to Kaufman and his performance style, and I found it offbeat and, yes, funny.
I do have a couple of minor quibbles. I don't know the entire story, but there are a couple of facts fudged. For example, the way Kaufman left Saturday Night Live is not quite true(if they had done the true story, it would have been even funnier). Also, Courtney Love is not as good as she was in THE PEOPLE VS. LARRY FLYNT, though she does have moments. But, as I said, those are minor quibbles. Particularly high among the virtues is, of course, Jim Carrey as Kaufman. It took me awhile for him to "disappear" into the role, as so many people said he did, but he is amazing and constantly keeps us off balance and laughing, as does the entire movie.