Remembering Gene Wilder

Ludicrous MA rating on Netflix. Really? This was a kind and wholesome look at Gene Wilder as a person and his unique career.

The last section of his life with dementia is especially moving. Though this documentary doesn't include all his work, all the obvious high points are explored .

What's remarkable as a side note is the longevity of the now 98 year old Mel Brooks, who crucially helped create Wilder's career. His sense of loss is palpable.

Overall this is as good a documentary as could done.

MA must be a lazy marketing gimmick, since it suggests raw material. This is as sweet a production befitting Wilder's gentle persona.

A wonderful documentary on probably the gentlest human beings ever to become a movie star. Tracing his roots as a stage performer from the Midwest, he managed to impress none other than Mel Brooks since he was starring on Broadway in a production w/his wife, Anne Bancroft & he needed to fill a part in a script that he was writing which would become The Producers. And from there you could pretty much say the rest was history as roles in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, Blazing Saddles (in a part Oscar winner Gig Young had to dismiss himself from due to his heavy drinking) & Young Frankenstein (which he co-wrote) & a partnership w/Richard Pryor through a series of comedies (Stir Crazy, Silver Streak & a couple of others) would solidify his legend. On the personal front he'd eventually find love w/fellow comedienne Gilda Radner but after her death from cancer, Wilder was lost until he partnered w/a hearing impaired therapist named Karen Boyer who he'd be w/for the rest of his life. Through all the talking head testimonials & interviews w/Wilder himself, we appreciate even now how much he gave us & how cherished we were to know him even though a celluloid screen would keep him & us apart.

Before I get into my review, I want to address a complaint that I've seen here from people about this documentary. No, the narration was not AI generated! It comes from his own audiobook that he did before he died. Too bad that the people criticizing this movie couldn't have taken the time to find this out instead of jumping to such incorrect conclusions. But I digress..

Remembering a life of fate and destiny!

For somebody who was an atheist Buddhist, he certainly talked a lot about God. I don't believe he was actually an atheist, maybe more like an agnostic. Agnostic is just don't know for sure about anything, but you can have a belief, you just don't know if it's true. I think that was Gene. I believe he did believe in God. He was just open to being wrong about it.

His life was filled with evidence of God's existence as well, including so many brushes with fate. Too many to be mere coincidence. His life was filled with what I like to call Godwinks. And the beautiful thing is, he was open to the signs. He followed, where God led him. And his life was all the richer for it, full of meaning and higher purpose. He had faith.

He was a good man, and that was made clear throughout this documentary. So many documentaries show that the people we like had demons. But if Gene had any demons, they were channeled through his work only. In life, this documentary shows that he was a kind, gentle, caring, and compassionate soul - who also happened to be very, very funny. In addition to comedy, he was also a great writer, and a great artist - as well as student of life. One word that kept popping up over and over to describe him was "innocent" and it was very innocent that made him such a good student of life. He never thought he knew more than life could teach him. He was always willing to learn, and this made him forever young at heart. It was this quest learning that introduced him to his last wife, that he was married to until death did part. But because I know that somewhere inside him, he knew God, he must be in heaven now, watching over his beloved.

God bless you, Gene Wilder! You made the world a better place just by being the beautiful man that you were.

REMEMBERING GENE WILDER (2024) **** Gene Wilder, Gilda Radner, Mel Brooks, Richard Pryor, Alan Alda, Harry Connick, Jr., Carol Kane, Eric McCormack, Alan Zweibel, Burton Gilliam, Ben Mankiewicz, Peter Ostrum, Rain Pryor. Ron Frank's valentine of a documentary on the beloved comedic actor focuses on Wilder's theatrical and cinematic career with fond recollections by friends, family and collaborators with voice over narration provided by the late icon's audiobook biography audio mixed with clips and vintage photos of the past. The film's success is in capturing Wilder's Mona Lisa smile, mischievous glint in his eyes and utter charm and warmth by being both meek and, well, wild.

A wonderful telling of the actor and comedian's life story. The movie showcases key moments in Gene's life and career. The movie handles his memory with such care and compassion. You can tell a lot of love went into this project and that they loved Gene and his work. The writer and director showcase a loving tribute to the late actor. The movie really made you feel like you were a friend of the comedian. Whether it was the personal or professional stories, they all showcased a truly remarkable man. 10/10 would recommend to anyone who is a fan of the actor and his works. I would also recommend this to fans of documentaries as well!