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The Comedian

Play trailer 2:31 Poster for The Comedian R Released Feb 3, 2017 2h 0m Comedy Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
24% Tomatometer 112 Reviews 28% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
Jackie Burke, an aging comic icon, has seen better days. Despite his efforts to reinvent himself and his comic genius, the audience only wants to know him as the former television character he once played. Already a strain on his younger brother and his wife, Jackie is forced to serve out a sentence doing community service for accosting an audience member. While there, he meets Harmony, the daughter of a sleazy Florida real estate mogul, and the two find inspiration in each other.
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The Comedian

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Critics Consensus

The Comedian boasts an incredibly talented cast, but they're put to poor use in an aimless rom-com whose handful of memorable moments never add up to a compelling story.

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Critics Reviews

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Jason Bailey Flavorwire Hackford's never been much good at pacing, and the film sort of sloshes from one scene to the next, which calls greater attention to its considerable flab - it's full of full scenes and subplots that could disappear without any real damage. Feb 17, 2017 Full Review David Sims The Atlantic A fetid, overlong drama laden with bizarre subplots and an inexplicably star-studded supporting cast, built around the dated idea that standup comedians can, indeed, be jerks. Feb 9, 2017 Full Review Richard Brody New Yorker The plot is forced and flimsy, the characters are thinly conceived, and the comic writing is often cringeworthy. Feb 6, 2017 Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy The Comedian benefits from the nice rapport between De Niro and Mann, the contributions of a knockout supporting cast, and hard-edged humor that isn't afraid to go for the low blow. Rated: 3/4 Aug 17, 2021 Full Review Richard Crouse Richard Crouse Promises much but doesn't deliver and in comedy delivery is everything. Rated: 2/5 Mar 4, 2021 Full Review Steven Prokopy Third Coast Review It plays it safe and the end results are astonishingly mediocre. May 1, 2020 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (112) audience reviews
Kelly H Director taylor hatford should have told Deniro , just play it out like taxi driver , but with bad jokes Rated 3 out of 5 stars 08/01/24 Full Review Nathan A Everyone that is rating this movie low has no idea about the culture of stand up comedy and zero understanding of good raunchy humor. This movie is beautifully written, the actors do a fantastic job portraying hardship and love. One of my favorite Dinero movies and one of my favorite movies that dive into the comedian world. It makes me angry that it has such a low score. You people are too soft and have no taste for a crude, rough, and out of the box movie. It's emotional and relaxed at the same time. 5 stars no doubt. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/15/23 Full Review Arthur F As stated by multiple reviewers, a disappointing waste of incredible talent. The script doesn't work as a comedy or a drama and there is nothing likeable, or interesting in the character of Jackie. The one insight that rings true is the curious phenomena of how so many comedians grow increasingly bilious as they age. After viewing this movie, I'm desperate to see "King Of Comedy" to clear my palate of this sour tale. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 10/12/23 Full Review Liberal M Funny movie abour the after-career life of a comedian played ba de Niro, I liked it Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 09/11/23 Full Review bob c One of de Niro's best movies. Hard to see why the critics were so hard on it. Maybe it's just aged well and looks better in 2023 when I caught up with it. He's on top form with a bitter sweet semi funny performance supported by half a dozen great characters. It may be an old persons movie. But 24 is a ludicrous score for a minor masterpiece. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/24/23 Full Review Gail E I don't find humor in F bombs in almost every sentence. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 01/01/23 Full Review Read all reviews
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Cast & Crew

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Movie Info

Synopsis Jackie Burke, an aging comic icon, has seen better days. Despite his efforts to reinvent himself and his comic genius, the audience only wants to know him as the former television character he once played. Already a strain on his younger brother and his wife, Jackie is forced to serve out a sentence doing community service for accosting an audience member. While there, he meets Harmony, the daughter of a sleazy Florida real estate mogul, and the two find inspiration in each other.
Director
Taylor Hackford
Producer
Art Linson, John Linson, Mark Canton, Courtney Solomon, Taylor Hackford
Screenwriter
Art Linson, Jeff Ross, Richard LaGravenese, Lewis Friedman
Distributor
Sony Pictures Classics
Production Co
Imaginary Forces, Sony Pictures Classics, Anvil Films, Atmosphere Entertainment MM LLC
Rating
R (Language Throughout|Crude Sexual References)
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Feb 3, 2017, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
May 2, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA)
$1.7M
Runtime
2h 0m
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)
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