Here I Come To Save The Day

Rating: 8/10 (13 April 2019)

Alright guys, we're talking about Man on the Moon starring Jim Carrey. He was awarded a Golden Globe for his role of Andy Kaufman. In case you're unfamiliar (I was because this is way before my time), Kaufman was born in 1949 and died in May 1984. He was an American entertainer, actor, writer and performance artist. While often being called a comedian, Kaufman said "I am not a comic, I have never told a joke. ... The comedian's promise is that he will go out there and make you laugh with him... My only promise is that I will try to entertain you as best I can."
So, I wouldn't normally do a spoiler alert on a biopic, but given the timeframe this movie was made I'm giving a small one. To begin, Jim Carrey's performance was absolutely outstanding. I'm not surprised at all he received the 2000 Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical. You're intrigued right from the beginning with a small monologue. You can definitely tell Jim Carrey was fully immersed in the character (as he consistently does) and that is exemplified in the Netflix Documentary "Jim and Andy" which I would definitely recommend watching afterwards. But back to the movie. At first, you feel kind of bad for Kaufman because as a young boy, he was playing in his room for an audience in the walls. His father wasn't too enthusiastic about this quality in his son and made it a point that he'd play with friends or perform in front of an audience. I'm sure this would hit home for a lot of people.
Fast forward to adult Kaufman. He performs at a comedy club and let me tell you, it's rough to watch. However, you got to remember that this is the beginning and you'll learn that this "cringe" has a purpose.
Things begin to pick up when Kaufman is faced with an ultimatum to either get the crowd going or being fired by his boss. In comes the foreign man and Elvis Presley impersonations. Amazing. The simplicity is pure genius. I'd explain it but i wouldn't do it justice. At least YouTube it if you don't watch the film. The movie takes off and you honestly almost forget that this is Jim Carrey. This act of The Foreign Man and Elvis Presley impersonations eventually leads him to a role in the show Taxi and steps in the limelight. There are many lessons in this movie. Again, he said he never told jokes and it's clear in this movie. I tell you that because although he was loved and well known, he also had moments and characters (Tony Clifton) that people did not love. Kaufman's self-determination to pursue his dream and not let others perceptions of him discourage him is very admirable. After all, you can also fail at the things you don't love. So why not fail at something you do love?
The movie continues to follow Kaufman's journey as he stars in Taxi and eventually begins to stray off into his own specials. Around this time comes Kaufman's partner, Bob Zmuda (played by Paul Giamatti). At this point of the movie you're bought in. You're in for the long haul. You're going to finish this movie. Kaufman and Zmuda bring a sense of chaos to film. You know that person who you connect with on a weird level? When you are laughing and everyone is kinda looking at you? Yeah. Kaufman and Zmuda often had staged scenes where only they knew it was a bit and often never told the crowd. This is great, but it's great to an extent. As you're watching, things begin to almost spiral downward in a "The boy who cried wolf" kinda way.
Kaufman begins pushing it further and further with his character Tony Clifton and "edging the crowd on"to the point where he loses his fan base. Kaufman was great at getting a reaction out of people and even if the crowd didn't enjoy it, it was entertaining. It's east to grasp the logic but feel bad for him about how people are viewing him. For example, depending on where you start the movie, you might call Kaufman an asshole, but if you watch the whole movie, you understand this is him. Kaufman does what Kaufman wishes. The heartbreaking moment is when Kaufman is diagnosed with a deadly cancer but his own manager doesn't believe him due to his previous antics. This holds true for the fan base as well. I'll leave the ending to you. I don't want to spoil the entire movie as I believe you should see it for yourself if you consider yourself a Jim Carrey fan. Also, this review is pretty long.
In conclusion, Jim Carrey did an outstanding job in portraying Andy Kaufman. It's a story of believing in who you are and what you're doing despite other people's perceptions. It's a unique comedy that is unlike any other. I personally give this movie a 7.9. I'll likely purchase my own copy. Happy watching!