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Amazon.co.uk Review
Comedian Billy Crystal invested a life's worth of experience into his directorial debut, starring in and cowriting it as well. Mr. Saturday Night is a fascinating alternate biography of the career he never had. From the 1920s to the 90s, the movie uses flashbacks to follow a comedian's turbulent journey from making the family laugh, to stardom, to retirement. Buddy Young Jr (Crystal) and his brother Stan (David Paymer) show us the decidedly unfunny behind-the-scenes family events that can bolster or destroy an act. It's unfortunate that the flip side of Buddy's comic face is a viciously cruel streak. Distanced from his daughter and with Stan's need to move on, the contemporary segments are tinged with tragedy. They're assisted immeasurably by some impressive old-age make-up (which so often fails), transforming Crystal into an unrecognisable cantankerous creature. The gags come thick and fast; there are numerous cameos and the good-natured tone of the movie make it universally appealing. If only more acts from Saturday Night Live had been handled as well.
On the DVD: Mr. Saturday Night is a standard transfer with no frills in 4:3 and stereo. The extras package offers a series of mini-interviews that are interesting in themselves, but inexplicably repeated in the accompanying five-minute featurette. --Paul Tonks
Product Description
Buddy Young was the comic's comic, loved by everyone. Now, playing to miniscule crowds in nursing homes, it seems like everybody but Buddy realizes that he should retire. Studded with witty one-liners and rapid-fire routines, Mr. Saturday Night follows the rise, fall and partial comeback of the fictional Buddy Young, Jr. (Billy Crystal), who, though achieving some degree of fame, never quite reaches the top rung of the business. After alienating his new agent, his brother/ manager and the rest of the family it s time to decide what s more important comedy or family.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
As my title indicates , this film is a affectionate homage to a style of comedy that was extremely popular in the 1950's and 1960's. Crystal has obviously taken a lot of care and attention in creating his chracter of Buddy Young.
He has strong support from David Paymer as his brother and Julie Warner as his long suffering but much loved wife Elaine. They both compliment Crystals very strong and stubborn character.
This film should be watched by all fans of such comedians such Jack Benny, Jerry Lewis and of course Billy Crystal whom really gives a great performance as the aging comic.
The one disappointment of this film is the make up.....Pretty unbelievable..........
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
19 reviews
11 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Tremendously Moving Performance
10 Nov 2000
Poignant and moving--a transformational performance by Billy Crystal who gives such a finely nuanced performance of such depth that the movie has stayed with me for years. This isn't about a comdeian per se, its about somebody who realises that they have just missed the boat, felt that they were naturally entitled to be on the boat, and have to deal with that sense of life's betrayal. Crystal stops being just a funny man, and shows himself to be deeply sensitive and actually -- very deep. Disappointed viewers were looking for comic fluff, and when they got a sophisticated performance of a difficult man, they expressed their shock by rating the film badly.
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
A forgotten masterpiece
6 Mar 1999
Format:DVD
Something really rare in these days of disposable pop culture film. It's hilariously funny, poignant without being maudlin, and pulls off the hardest trick there is; namely, the drama works and the comedy works. This was truly an oscar winning effort that got ignored.
10 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Fantastic!
25 Feb 2002
Format:DVD
Truly an outstanding performance by Billy Crystal that deserved an Oscar. A fantastic movie that moved me greatly. This film is virtually unknown in the UK but got a screening on an English cable channel and I enjoyed it so much and I just had to buy the DVD. Billy Crystal is superb in the lead role. I had never seen, nor heard of, Mr Crystal prior to viewing this movie so I was able to judge him purely by this movie - outstanding!
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