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The Comic

1969, Movie, NR, 95 mins

The Comic: Review

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This halfhearted attempt to depict the silent era of motion pictures features Van Dyke in an unconvincing portrayal of an egocentric movie comic who is an amalgam of Harry Langdon, Buster Keaton, and Stan Laurel. Early success leads to carousing, drinking, and eventual self-ruination. Van Dyke abuses his friend Rooney (who wears a contact over one eye to make it appear that he is cross-eyed), cheats on his wife, and becomes a miserable, dangerous drunk, contending until the end that he has been unfairly treated by the industry. He makes a brief comeback after Allen rediscovers him, meets a gold-digging floozie, and dies in his hospital bed while marrying her. All of these events are seen in flashback with Van Dyke narrating from his coffin. The production is turgid and the dialog is cliche-ridden. No one really makes an effort to be funny and the laughs are woefully few. Van Dyke mercilessly apes Laurel's mannerisms, and many of the bits he performs are borrowed from the silent-era routines of Keaton and Chaplin. Additionally, the shorts Van Dyke's character stars in--such as "Love, Honor, and Oh Boy" and "Dr. Jerk and Mr. Hyde"--lack the imagination of the actual short comedies of Laurel and Keaton. THE COMIC was a good idea spoiled by an anemic script, lethargic acting, and predictable direction. leave a comment
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