Mr. Saturday Night

source: Mr. Saturday Night

Trailer—Mr. Saturday Night

Mr. Saturday Night

"DON'T GET ME STARTED!" I saw this film in the theater and I had to buy the DVD because I missed a lot of lines 'cause I was laughing so hard!! I admit that I've been a Billy Crystal fan since "Soap". But, as the movie follows the career of his Saturday Night Live character, Buddy Young, Jr., the dialog between him and Oscar-nominated David Paymer is priceless, whether they're being serious siblings past their prime or as agent and client during the Golden Age Of Television. With an excellent supporting cast which includes Helen Hunt, Julie Warner and Ron Silver (with cameos by Jerry Lewis and Jerry Orbach), I found this movie funny, heart-warming and poignant, too! It's been 25 years and I still quote lines from it during random conversations unbeknownst to those who haven't seen it! I hope you're not one of them.

Billy Crystal is a self-indulgent ass. Every time Howard Stern plays the tape of Stuttering John asking when the sequel to this shipwreck is coming out, and Billy is heard to lose his cool, it reminds me how close in personality he is to Buddy Young. At least Jerry Lewis, who is similarly capable of hilarious self-importance, got the joke when he took the part in KING OF COMEDY. This will go down with Bill Murray's wrongheaded foray into Serious Acting in THE RAZOR'S EDGE and Robin Williams' continuing descent into self-parody as a cautionary tale for the ages: a comedian ought to laugh at himself as much as the audience laughs at him. Otherwise he's going to give us the filmic equivalent of Eddie Murphy's R&B albums, every time. When will they learn?

Billy Crystal plays an old comedian Buddy Young who wants to have what he once had but people seem to have forgotten Buddy.So is it time to retire?Crystal directed this dramatic comedy in 1992 and it is filled with great actors.Crystal in the lead is amazing.David Paymer plays Buddy's brother Stan and Helen Hunt is Annie.The legendary comedian Joseph Levitch, better known as Jerry Lewis, makes a visit as himself in the movie.Mr. Saturday Night is a movie that in parts makes you smile and in parts brings tears to you eyes.

As previously noted in other comments, this is the story of the rise and fall of a very Jewish stand-up comic named Buddy Young Jr. (Crystal). More importantly, its the story of Young's relationship with his brother/agent. The movie was billed as a comedy, but it's actually a heavy drama with nuggets of comedy thrown in - mainly during the flashbacks to the early days of Young's career. I agree with the other negative reviewers that the drama side of the movie is pretty lousy - almost painfully over-the-top. But the fact is that the little nuggets of comedy scattered throughout the film really are funny. Laugh out loud funny. But is it worth watching two hours of really bad drama to catch about 20 mins of good comedy? I'd have to say no. By the end of the flick, the funniest thing about this movie is the farce of watching Crystal trying to be all serious and dramatic while wearing horribly bad make-up which makes him look more like a Star Trek alien than a senior citizen.

Simply one of the best films I have ever seen - funny, yes but that's not really the story here. This is an extremely poignant film. Two brothers who grow-up providing comical entertainment for their family embark on the road to fame and fortune, only one has the confidence / courage to progress ( Billy Crystal ). As one brother flourishes the other adopts the roles of manager. All is well as the rise to fame continues but as things turn bad another side to Billy Crystal's character is revealed. This is a film about a successful entertainer learning to deal with the abscence of an audience. It's about the love & hate between two brothers as the years go by. It's about life's choices, mistakes and regrets. This is a moving & powerful study of life, watch it!

I had waited a long time to see this movie, and it did not disappoint. Billy Crystal gives a marvelous turn as both director and star in this biopic of a stand-up comic. It is told in retrospective, as he is now in old age and reduced to performing in nursing homes. He tells his fascinating life story. I found a little bit of Laurel and Hardy in the movie as Buddy (Crystal) continuously frustrates his brother/manager Stan. Crystal was good as his character is portrayed as a comic who is brilliant at what he does but at the same time is difficult to work with. I liked it. I really recommend this one. *** out of ****

How come this film has not received more plaudits? I know David Palmer got an Oscar but it's such a wonderful feel good film that deserves more. I watch it regularly to cheer myself up. Mr Crystal's delivery is razor sharp and he's really put together a beautiful and utterly believable faux biopic. I can't deny that I had to check that this wasn't a true story but maybe I'm a little gullible. Lovely story about two Jewish brothers and their growing up within the field of stand-up comedy although with quite separate roles. Great cameo from Jerry Lewis. The make-up in these sorts of films where characters age substantially can be a little suspect but the cast do well to express ageing bodies quite well. A true original and be prepared for joyful tears in the midst of laughter.