Full disclosure: I've never been a fan of Joan Rivers. But Ricki Stern's and Annie Sundberg's incisive documentary about the self-deprecating plastic surgery victim and show biz veteran gave me new found respect for Rivers's tireless work ethic and individual brand of comedy.
Example: On hating Victoria Beckham, "Does the tampon me look fat?" Ba-dump-sshhh. At 76, Rivers has forgotten more about the ins and outs of show biz than most people in Hollywood put together can imagine.
Archive footage of things like Rivers's guest appearances on "Johnny Carson's Tonight Show," that ignited her career under Carson's assistance, take second place to the comic's day to day routine of brainstorming new strategies to put her back in the public eye.
A backstage look at the rehearsal process and performance of her not-so-hot autobiographical play in London reveals the source of her insecurity about having her acting abilities raked over the coals by critics, as happened with her first play when she was starting out.
Here is an honest portrait of a workaholic performer and her long but bumpy career that witnessed the suicide of her husband and betrayals from people like the late Johnny Carson and her longtime manager.
For a comedienne who complains that no man ever called her "beautiful," Joan Rivers is one very tough and funny lady.
Rated R. 84 mins.
