In our “The Good, the Bad, and the Verdict” film reviews, Joseph and Mike give their thoughts on a slice of cinema. For this installment, it’s the Andy Kaufman biopic Thank You Very Much by Alex Braverman and Wavelength Productions.
Synopsis
A look at the all-too-short life and career of enigmatic comedy legend Andy Kaufman, including never-before-seen footage and intimate interviews with friends, colleagues and family members.
Joseph: Thank You Very Much presents both a greatest-hits series of classic Kaufman clips and a staggering array of talking heads segments with Kaufman’s family members, friends, coworkers, and admirers. It’s ultimately a feel-good tribute to the highly controversial comedian, though director Braverman doesn’t shy away from presenting Kaufman’s troubles along with the confusion and chaos he brought not only to audiences but also to coworkers. A wealth of previously unseen personal footage and photos from childhood onward make this documentary a highly unique experience for even the most ardent Kaufman fan. Andy’s writer, coconspirator, and close friend Bob Zmuda shares great insight about working with Kaufman, as do Danny DeVito, Marilu Henner, and Lynne Margulies, among several others.
Mike: What more can be said about Andy Kaufman that hasn’t already been said? Not a whole lot, really. However, what Alex Braverman does with Thank You Very Much is show us what we already knew but in a different light thanks to numerous old photos and video clips from home movies and performances. That isn’t to say we don’t see the moments we’ve all seen and loved (or hated) before - there’s plenty of that and to be honest this feels at times to be less of a documentary and more of a retrospective on Kaufman’s life as a 90 minute highlight reel. The “talking heads” are never ever critical of the man as Braverman chose those closest to Andy who’d portray him the light that he wanted him to be shown. Is this all bad? Well, to me and - I am sure - others, no it’s not. That’s why this is up here in the ‘Good’ section. As a fan, I loved what Braverman has put together BECAUSE it’s a highlight reel.
The Bad
Joseph: No real knocks here from me. I do wish, though, that the documentary had spent a bit more time on Kaufman’s time with Memphis Wrestling, at least as much as it does focusing on his infamous wrestling matches with women. (For those interested in his professional wrestling feud with Jerry “The King” Lawler, I recommend the 1989 documentary I’m from Hollywood ).
Mike: If people are coming into a documentary to make themselves think and challenge their beliefs in a given topic, this is not the documentary for them. If someone is saying to themselves “Maybe this will change my mind and make me like Andy Kaufman”, this will not do that.
The Verdict
Joseph: Braverman has crafted a well-balanced documentary about one of the most unique — and certainly divisive — entertainers of the late 20th century. Thank You Very Much captures the spirit of Kaufman, his one-of-a-kind approaches to performing and to show business, and his legacy. Kaufman fans and detractors alike should all find this documentary a wholly worthwhile watch.
Mike: Is it possible for a movie to have no bad aspects? Yes. Is this that movie? Yes. But, also no. Documentaries are hard to rate in a good or bad sense, to be honest. Chances are if you’re watching a documentary, especially one about an individual, it’s because you like that person and are interested in learning more about them, or watching what amounts to a highlight reel of their life with a commentary track. So in that respect, yes, this is a movie with nothing really bad because I find Kaufman to be one of the funniest and most cutting edge people to have ever graced us with their presence. However, in catering to the fans of Kaufman, Braverman doesn’t provide anything beyond surface-level looks at the impact - for good or bad - that Kaufman had on people. That is to say there’s nothing here that will make anyone question their beliefs on Andy’s legacy. Fans are gonna smile and haters are gonna hate and, in the end, Thank You Very Much doesn’t provide anything to make anybody change their mind. And there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that.
Thank You Very Much screens as part of the 21st Calgary Underground Film Festival, which runs April 18–28, 2024. For more information, visit https://www.calgaryundergroundfilm.org/.
Thank You Very Much
Directed By: Alex Braverman
Written By: Alex Braverman
Starring: Danny DeVito, Marilu Henner, Bob Zmuda, Tony Clifton, Andy Kaufman
Run Time: 1h 39m
Rating: NR
Release Date: September 1, 2023
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