Unenlightening, unnecessary movie

Rating: 4/10 (1 February 2000)

Despite a great performance from Jim Carrey, this feels more like a "greatest hits" collection of Andy Kaufman performances than any serious attempt to examine him or try to understand him. Some people have said that by not trying to psychoanalyze Kaufman the filmmakers show admirable restraint and point up the fact that we can never truly "know" anybody or their motives. Fine, but in that case why make a movie? Without an angle or a point of view to it, a biopic is just dull. Books and/or documentaries remain the best way to chronicle a person's life - and in Kaufman's case, there are several good examples of both (books: "Lost in the Funhouse" by Bill Zehme and "Andy Kaufman Revealed" by his friend and writing partner Bob Zmuda; documentaries: Comedy Central's Salute to Andy Kaufman and, if you're interested primarily in his wrestling exploits and his bouts with Jerry Lawler "I Come From Hollywood" - and there are others as well). With so much information out there about the man, this movie just feels redundant and unneccesary.