The King of Comedy
Scorsese had before him all the makings of a sharp satire on the price of fame and the lengths some people will go to obtain it, and most of his points are well taken. Celebrity has become even more of a joke since the film's release 20+ years ago (now people like Paris Hilton are famous for being famous—in other words, for nothing), and the movie's prescience about this—though hardly original—goes straight to the heart of society's obsession with stardom today. Unfortunately, De Niro is so badly miscast as perpetual loser Rupert Pupkin that watching The King of Comedy becomes uncomfortable for all the wrong reasons. It should be awkward to watch Pupkin's delusions of grandeur about his dreadful comedic skills, but it's even more embarrassing to watch an actor of De Niro's caliber flounder around in a part he has no business inhabiting. By the time Pupkin's psychological deficiencies lead to the kidnapping of his idol in a brazen attempt to take the stage, all interest has been washed away by De Niro's misplaced presence. A more interesting story would have examined the Carson-esque character of Jerry Langford; Lewis is actually quite good as the lonely king of late night television whose celebrity lifestyle isn't all it's cracked up to be.
- December 15, 2005
DVD Extras
The only things here are a "making-of" featurette, which does nothing to further explain the train wreck you just watched, and a stills gallery.