Saturday Night Live: The Best of Phil Hartman

Phil Hartman may not have had the hype during his SNL career that Dana Carvey, Mike Myers, Chris Rock and Adam Sandler received, but he was easily their equal in talent and importance to the show's reputation in the '90s. As has been said before, he was as versatile and reliable as Dan Aykroyd was to an earlier era. It's not just the dead-on impersonations of Clinton, Donahue, Sinatra, etc. that are so funny, but maybe even more so the oddball original characters who can turn ordinary lines like "This is something; this is nothing..." or "Oh, there's a little tear in the paper bag.."into comic gems. I love this DVD just for Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer, which manages to simultaneously spoof primitive minds and legal weasels. "Your world frightens and confuses me!" We miss you, Phil.

Is it just me or were vintage SNL 'Best Of' titles always a mixed bag? You'd get some prime cuts from standout cast members for sure, but then you'd also get skits that really didn't highlight them, weren't their best or the odd bit that left you wondering how it made the cut. This tribute to the late, great Phil Hartman made realise how much I miss Phil, but the contents are a mixed bag.

For a cold opening, you get a vintage piece of US politics with Admiral Stockdale (Hartman) and Ross Perot (Dana Carvey) that delivers some dry humor and let's Phil state those magical words "Live from New York it's Saturday Night!". Then in the highest point here during the 83 min feature is "The Sinatra Group" with Phil's brilliant portrayal of Frank Sinatra, some sharp writing and good pieces from fellow cast member Jan Hooks and guest star Sting.

"Compulsion" is a good parody of a douchy, self important expensive perfume commercial. Has a funny impression of then President Bill Clinton at McDonald's. Follows that in another good impression of former talk show host Phil Donahue and a skit that was ahead of its time given today's drama, sickness in the dating world. Another good impression follows of Peter Graves doing a science show and it's gotta be said the good chemistry he had with Jon Lovitz.

A non-funny skit next as Phil dresses up to play then current first lady Barbara Bush. A long montage of quick cuts; Great Ronald Reagan impression, a piece singing a song with Steve Martin, Governor Mario Cuomo's mob ties (lol). Senator Edward Kennedy, a piece from "Church Chat" with evangelists asking for financial contributions "now more than ever" (lol). Brief visit from Jesus, a Star Trek skit, "Dadly Duties" and more brief impressions that include Charlton Heston, Johnny Cash, Michael Caine, Telly Savalas, Burt Reynolds, Ed McMahon.

Back to the unfunny with a segment of "Unfrozen Cave Man Lawyer" before a Weekend Update All-Drug Olympics visual gag. Phil does a great bit of purposely pretentious in "Drama Class" but the skit isn't very funny. "Johnny O'Connor" reteams him with Lovitz for a funny 1940's bad actor movie studio firing. Then it's "Cooking With the Anal Retentive Chef" that nails it's one note joke quick but has the ability to keep on going.

"Succinctly Speaking" is only worth its inclusion because Phil breaks character and starts laughing otherwise it'd be a snore. Then it's back to quick snippets that sees Phil lay a kiss on Alec Baldwin, ask Christian Slater why he's so "sassy", a quick piece from an army drill instructor bit, a piece from Sprockets Dating Game. Then an unfunny bit about an unknown actor losing his sanity taking over a role made famous by Yul Brynner on Broadway. A horrible segment "Robot Repair", a skit about Anne Boleyn getting her head cut off and then a non-laugh piece called "Love Is A Dream" meant as an emotional send-off to the man.

You get his original audition, bloopers and a cut dress rehearsal skit "Uncle John" that I thought was pretty hilarious as extras. However as you can see the main presentation to 'The Best of Phil Hartman' is an elevator of quality. Two high quality skits and really good impressions try their best to counterbalance dead weight and only partially succeed.

While there was tons of material to choose from, Saturday Night Live does a great job of picking excellent Hartman sketches that had me dying laughing. The characters are all hilarious. This is a great video for any Hartman fan, and it will make a Hartman fan of any who haven't seen him. Easily a 10.

Only words can describe this truly gifted comic actor. From his outrageous, true to life impersonations of Frank Sinatra and Bill Clinton to his brilliantly offbeat characters like Anal Retentive Chef and Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer. Phil Hartman remains a legend in sketch comedy. This tape, which should've been much, much longer features some of Hartman's best work. He'll definitely be remembered for his contribution to comedy.

The Best of Phil Hartman is a great tribute to one of SNL's best alumni. His greatest stuff from his years on the show is here, including but not limited to Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer, Bill Clinton and Frank Sinatra. Phil Hartman was without a doubt one of the most talented and funny of the SNL cast. This is an excellent tribute to him.