Sam Kinison: Why Did We Laugh?

A very good bio of the life and times of one of the greatest comedians of our time. Sam Kinison was truly a one of a kind talent. Interviews with Jay Leno, Richard Pryor, Sam's brother and former manager Bill and a host of others make for a good bio of Sam. If you're a Kinison fan see it! If you're not see it anyway.

Sam Kinison was brilliant. He was not vulgar, nor was he obscene. Rather, he used X-Rated material and verbiage to express comedic commentary on a variety of topics. And the funny thing about it was that he told the truth. He was superb at it. And that's why we laughed. This film won awards for "best direction" and "best documentary" and deservedly so. Larry Carroll did a commendable job interweaving live performances with peer commentary and narrative. Beverly D'Angelo and Richard Pryor are particularly effective with brother Bill Kinison as Executive Producer and partial host. This is an insightful film of a man who finally found his place and "let it rip".

It' s a pleasant enough overview of the man and his career, but skips out on some detail in the attempts for brevity. There were other specials that they could have pulled material from, but it's mostly from one. For a coles notes of him, this works, but further investigation is warranted at this comedy legend.

From " Move to Where the Food is!" to his reasoning why Jesus could not be married, Kinison left me wanting more. He made us laugh because somehow...some way he joked about situations that happen... happened... in our lives from a unique perspective. This movie is good, especially for his old fans, and for anyone just discovering his work now that was not born by 1980. This movie gave me some closure and wanting more. Things like the closing song refrain " He Wore a Big Overcoat " have me asking :"How did I miss that song until 2023?". Looking now for that song... who wrote it?, etc. The song pivots from losing Sam Kinison to remembering Sam Kinison. Why did I laugh? Because his take on things rang true...

For fans of Sam's work, this film provides insight into the mind and art of one of the most off-the-wall comedians to come along since Lenny Bruce. It includes some good footage of Sam's early careers, but the viewer is left with as many questions as answers. Interviews with notables such as Jay Leno and Richard Pryor provide some needed depth. For those who appreciate "extreme" humor, I would recommend this one.