Reasonable tribute to Andy Kaufman

Rating: 7/10 (28 November 2001)

With 'Man On The Moon', director Milos Forman has produced an appropriate tribute to comedian Andy Kaufman in that he has tried, successfully in parts, to blur the lines between Kaufman's twisted imagination and reality. The audience is left questioning sometimes which parts of the film are the reality in Kaufman's life, and which parts are just a stunt created by Kaufman. The film is slightly frustrating because of that, but it's probably the way the director wanted it. The opening sequence is superb, accenting the sense of humour owned by Kaufman.
Jim Carrey's performance is outstanding in a part that's perfect for him as it allows him to show both his rubber faced comedy talent as well as his potential for serious acting.
The main fault with the film is the amount of information it tries to get in in too little time. Trying to fit an entire mans life into 2 hours is difficult and will lead to bits being cut short, and that is exactly what happens in Man on the Moon. Kaufman's rise to fame is barely documented, although his fall from fame is given a lot more screentime and so I'm guessing that it was decided as more important, which is fair enough.

This is obviously a must-see if you are a fan of Andy Kaufman, and is a recommended watcher for everyone else as it's an often funny, occasionally heart warming comedy/drama
7/10