Conan O'Brien Can't Stop

Conan O'Brien Can't Stop (2011)

*** (out of 4)

Good documentary taking a look at the tour Conan O'Brien went on after being fired from The Tonight Show and part of his agreement with the company was that he didn't appear on television for six months. So, unable to be on the air, O'Brien set out for a forty-four show tour and we see some of the act but most of the documentary shows the star behind-the-scenes. Fans of O'Brien should be entertained by this documentary and especially if you weren't able to catch any of the actual shows. There are sequences of the concerts that are shown here including his eight stages after losing a talk show as well as some musical numbers that are shown in their complete form. I think the most interesting thing about the documentary is getting to see O'Brien off the stage and just going from city to city trying to find the energy to bring it each night and then having other commitments on his days off. It was really interesting seeing how O'Brien had to bring it each night, try to keep that energy going and the entire time you can tell that he's just getting worn down by everything. There aren't any graphic outbursts where he just cracks and goes crazy but it's still interesting to see the toll that the road has on him. It was also fun seeing how the star would adjust to the various demands that were put on him and just seeing how part of his life was working during this period of his life. Those expecting some ambush on NBC are going to be disappointed as that's not here. I think the behind-the-scenes look at the tour were the most fascinating parts and those interested in that type of thing should enjoy the film.

I am not a big Conan O'Brien fan, but I love behind-the-scenes type documentaries. This one is excellent. It showcases Conan during a very difficult time in his life when he tries to come to terms with losing the Tonight Show and what to do with his anger. It shows a side of Conan that most people never see, and is hilarious throughout. I have so much more respect for him as a performer after seeing the film even though he comes across as a fairly arrogant jerk during most of the film. He is still very funny, even when you wish he were nicer. The director had over 140 hrs of footage and cut this down perfectly. Great audio and editing which was a huge task. Overall, it is a truly enjoyable movie.

When Conan did this tour I never even thought about going to see it. Now I really wish I had. This was Conan before all the unfunny Trump jokes and terrible guests. I miss the old Conan.

The battle for "The Tonight Show" was the sort of TV drama you couldn't possibly have scripted nor predicted. In June of 2009, late night talk show host Conan O'Brien took over the reins of "The Tonight Show" from its long-time host and Johnny Carson successor, Jay Leno. By the time 2010 rolled around, he was out of a job, replaced by Leno, bought off by NBC, and legally prohibited from television for nine months. Left with few options to bide his time, Conan hit the road with his staff to bring a new variety show to stages across North America. "The Legally Prohibited From Television Tour" made 44 stops and was mostly a success. This documentary, "Conan O'Brien Can't Stop" focuses on the entertainer's NBC drama and the ensuing experimental odyssey that came as a result of his lack of employment.

How much you will enjoy this documentary hinges solely on how likable you find Conan O'Brien. If you never stayed up past 12:30 to see what "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" was all about or are one of the milquetoast types who preferred Leno to the creepy ginger on "The Tonight Show," then "Conan O'Brien Can't Stop" will either go over your head or bore you to tears. Director Rodman Flender (who has such titles as "Idle Hands" and "Leprechaun 2" to this name) focuses as much on the subject's road show as he does the subject himself. All of the warts and imperfections of Coco's road trip are ruthlessly committed to film, for better or worse. For the first time, we see O'Brien as a perfectionist who literally can't stop. He can't stop talking, he can't stop joking and he absolutely can't stop even if it makes him look like a jerk in the process. There's a moment deep into the documentary where O'Brien himself acknowledges that he uses his jokes to subtly insult those around him and such moments of honesty (coupled with the fact that O'Brien himself approved the release of the film) find the host/writer/comedian coming out on top as a complex but utterly fascinating character. Even as he's ruthlessly ripping into longtime friend Jack McBrayer (of "30 Rock" fame) for absolutely no reason, you just can't help but root for him in the end.

While the film may not always paint its subject in the most flattering light, "Conan O'Brien Can't Stop" is still a fascinating and engrossing experience. Although it's obvious that Flender is only scratching at the surface of Conan O'Brien's madness, he reveals something that virtually nobody outside of the man's circle has seen: Conan O'Brien is a flawed, funny and often complicated human being who will stop at nothing to get laughs. Like a car accident, don't be surprised if you can't stop watching.

I've heard from several people that his attitude in this documentary has damaged their perception of Conan as a person. In some ways, I can understand where they're coming from; his humor on a person-to-person basis is much more biting and acidic than it is on television, and the film's approach of basically lining up every joke told behind the scenes, back-to-back-to-back, does give the impression that he's constantly picking on anyone who dares to enter the dressing room. That it also cuts away so quickly after every punchline doesn't give us a chance to understand the context of the conversation or the target's response to his barbs. The japes are constantly funny, but that uncertainty about their reception ultimately keeps the laughs from flowing freely. There's also an impression that he's always on, telling jokes without taking a breath - even during quiet moments at home with his wife and kids. To some, that might make him seem imposing and attention-seeking, but I took it as his way of dealing with the stress of an overloaded schedule, uncertain future and relentless media attention that he was working through at the time, just weeks after his public blowup with NBC. Conan runs with a very funny group of guys, and their puns combined with the glimpses both on the stage and behind the curtains at his "Prohibited Tour" make for some great material. It's just not an entirely friendly atmosphere for unbridled comedy.