Where Have You Gone, Lou DiMaggio? (Brad Kuhlman, 2017) USA

Reviewed by Gustav Arndal. Viewed at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival

Stand-up comedy sits in a weird space in popular culture, especially in America. On the one hand it’s a live performance art form practiced in small, private bars throughout the country. On the other hand it’s a medium that generates millions of dollars per year and has produced countless cultural icons from Robin Williams to Louis C.K.

This weird mix of raw, intimate personality and huge stardom is at this movie’s core. Lou DiMaggio was a stand-up comedian in the 1980’s, and he was part of a community that included stars like Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David all hanging around and performing at the comedy club “Catch A Rising Star.” But while this club was the place to be if you were a comedian wanting to be discovered, Lou drifted away from the form to become a Hollywood writer and producer instead.

Twenty years later, Lou wants to return to doing stand-up, and he and a documentary crew take us to various comedians, from world famous superstars to close friends, to talk about comedy and probe deeper into Lou’s life and passion.

There are two movies going on here. One is a character study, a look into a man aching to “get his life back” and rekindle a lost spark from the olden days. The other is a series of interviews with talented comedians conversing like old pals about the thing they love. The latter is definitely the main draw of the movie. These people are among the best and brightest at making people laugh with sheer showmanship, and watching them hang around and be themselves while also considering their craft is a wonderful experience.

The film is edited extremely well. Conversations flow quick enough to not grow stale but long enough that you get a sense of the old-friends-catching-up atmosphere. And scenes of Lou writing, brainstorming and performing really make you feel like you’re there with him.

But while Lou’s journey is wonderful at facilitating these interviews, it doesn’t quite pack an emotional punch. And ironically, it’s because Lou is too good. He’s a natural comedian, imminently likable and charismatic. We hear from industry professionals that this guy was one of the funniest guys at the most prestigious comedy clubs in the nation, and it’s not hard to believe them. So when Lou expresses his doubts that he can really make a comeback we already know he can do it. We’re just waiting for him to get there.

In the end Lou tells to us to follow our dreams and keep moving forward instead of reliving the past. And while this is a good lesson, it’s also something you hear all the time. What you don’t often hear is how to write a set. How to construct jokes. What it feels like to be up on stage with the crowd. Anecdotes about Robin Williams’ improvisational skills. These things are what make this movie a treat.

This is a film with its heart in the right place, no doubt about it. It could’ve easily been a watered-down promotional video for a comedian wanting to get back in the game. But Lou’s earnestness and charisma makes the whole premise work. And while it may not tug at your heart strings, it will tickle your brain with wonderful insights and even better laughs.

If you’re a fan of stand-up or interested in the art of comedy, this one is a must see.

[image taken from the Hollywood Reporter]