Robert De Niro Attempts to Get Laughs as Sad Clown in ‘The Comedian’

Sandra Miska

When one thinks of the great Oscar-winning actor Robert De Niro, comedy is not the first thing that comes to mind. Although he is best known for his performances in films like “Mean Streets,” “The Godfather Part II” and “Raging Bull,” De Niro has been increasingly exercising his comedic chops in recent years with performances in the “Meet the Parents” trilogy, “The Intern” and the occasional appearance on late-night television. In his latest film, “The Comedian,” De Niro attempts to show more of his humorous side with mixed results. 

De Niro stars as Jackie Burke, an aging stand-up best known for starring in a hit sitcom. The audience is introduced to Jackie during the twilight of his career, playing shows alongside other comics including Brett Butler for a cut of the door. His life story is the equivalent of an episode of “E! True Hollywood Story.” The film glosses over the back-story of his non-existent family and his only child who died from a drug overdose. He has a rocky relationship with his well-meaning brother (Danny DeVito) and his less forgiving sister-in-law (Patti LuPone). The one person Jackie can count on is his long-suffering manager (Edie Falco). 

Things take a turn after a heckler with a camera goads Jackie for material for his web series. Jackie attacks the heckler, an action that leads to his 30-day incarceration. The upside, however, is that the altercation goes viral, reminding the public that Jackie is still alive while breathing new life into his career. At his court-ordered community service, he finds a kindred spirit in Harmony (Leslie Mann), who is on probation for assaulting a cheating boyfriend. The two bond, despite the disapproval of her big shot father (Harvey Keitel). The rest of the film deals with Jackie navigating his relationip with Harmony and attempting to rebuild his career.

For a movie about a comedian, there are few funny moments. Even the scenes in which Jackie performs stand-up often fall flat. In one scene, Jackie performs at a roast and literally kills the guest of honor. What could have been a great, dark comedic moment unfortunately fails to evoke any laughter. “The Comedian” has a sad clown premise full of celebrity cameos (Billy Crystal and Cloris Leachman), making it comparable to the 2009 Judd Apatow dramatic comedy, “Funny People.” However, director Taylor Hackford of “An Officer and a Gentleman” acclaim fails to display the same heartfelt effort that is present in Apatow’s earlier film.  It’s pretty much impossible for an actor of De Niro’s caliber to give a terrible performance, but it is fair to state that both De Niro and Hackford are out of their element. 

“The Comedian” opens nationwide on Feb. 3.