Film Review: Man on the Moon

Jim Carrey as Andy Kaufman in Milos Forman's latest

The comedy "legend" Andy Kaufman. The story of his life. From the television show he had as a kid that was just his bedroom wall, to the television show he was on as an adult, Taxi, which felt like a wall, this is the story of a man forced to change his style to suit the networks. A man whose famous character was not going to be the albatross around his neck. A man who made jokes the world didn't get. From the bad guy who only wrestles women, to the man who read "The Great Gatsby" to college audiences who didn't get that this was their punishment for not being open minded. From the man who dresses up as the most appalling lounge act to ever grace the Strip, and - ultimately - to the man who admits he has a rare form of cancer and everybody, even his family, believes it's a sick joke.

The story of a misunderstood entertainer. This film is one of the best I've seen so far this weather. It's ripe with gags that aren't in the form of one-liners, you have to take a step back from them, much in the way you have to take a step back from the humour of Kaufman. This is ultimately the hidden truth in this film. I predict that the opinion of cinema-goers will be split on this film. One side will think that the jokes weren't funny, the other side will tell you that it's one of the funniest films ever made. Guess which side Andy Kaufman would have been on.

Conclusion? Carrey turns in a fine performance as the lead in this biopic of the comedian nobody found funny, though even Kaufman admits that he was a song-and-dance man, and not a comedian. The film is funny and at the same time sad. The story of a man having fun with nobody else laughing. A tragic comedy. A classic. See it and laugh. I dare ya.

Andy Kelly