Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project
Year: 2007
Director: John Landis
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Studio: Salient Media / Vivendi Visual Entertainment
Running Time: 90 Mins
Review Rating: 4 Stars
Official Website: http://www.mrwarmth-themovie.com/
Year: 2007
Director: John Landis
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Studio: Salient Media / Vivendi Visual Entertainment
Running Time: 90 Mins
Review Rating: 4 Stars
Official Website: http://www.mrwarmth-themovie.com/
Mr. Warmth is the latest film and second documentary from legendary filmmaker John Landis, who is most notably known for such films like An American Werewolf in London, The Blues Brothers, Animal House and the Michael Jackson, Thriller video. The documentary has played in film festivals such as AFI Fest and the New York Film Fest.
The documentary follows the life of Don Rickles, one of the last legendary comedians still left from the late sixty, early seventy’s era. He has been given nicknames over the years like, The Merchant of Venom, The King of Zing, and Mr. Warmth. He has appeared in such films, as Kelly’s Heroes, Landis’s Innocent Blood, Casino, and Toy Story 1&2 but he is most known for his stand-up routine.
The documentary highlights his extraordinary career by conducting and interviews with him, some of today’s biggest comedy stars and close friends of his, including Chris Rock, Robin Williams, Clint Eastwood, Jay Leno, Whoopi Goldberg, and Billy Crystal, to name a few and includes TV and film clips of some of his complete work. The documentary also features bits of his never before seen footage of his stand-up comedy show in Las Vegas, as this should be a treat to fans of his.
Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project was a very good look into the career of Don Rickles. John Landis did a very good job here, as Don Rickles’s career and personal life before stardom was interesting to watch and learn about him. He treats his subject very well. He shows every aspect from his film and TV career to stand-up routines to Don Rickles relationship with his mother. Also, an interesting fact, according to the salient media website in the synopsis of this film Landis was the L.A. chapter president of The Don Rickles Fan Club. Landis does a good job in trying not to make this look like a fan appreciation film by putting himself in for an extended period to talk about his obsession with Don Rickles, as he only appeared briefly. He lets Rickles and others talk about him, which makes it a credible documentary instead of one person’s obsession. He also spends a little time by going behind the scenes before Rickle’s stand-up show, as he gives you the sense about that era of comedy.
What makes this film really succeed was the interview that Landis conducted with his friends and celebrities that were influenced by him and the funny bits featuring Rickles that he inserts into the film very well. He manages to get good stories from the interviews. I thought it provided very good stories and interesting things that I never knew about Don Rickles. The bits that Landis includes were very funny, like the incident when Rickles accidentally breaks Johnny Carson’s smoking box the night when he wasn’t on the Tonight Show, then Carson finds out the next show and goes to the studio where Rickles was filming a TV Show to get an explanation which I got a kick out of. It’s comedy that you don’t see, these days. I like how he includes these funny bits, as it didn’t make the film boring to watch and sense about the person.
Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project is a unique look at the life and career of him that is a must for all fans of comedy.
Dvd Extras:
2 Disc Set
Outtakes
Deleted scenes
The documentary follows the life of Don Rickles, one of the last legendary comedians still left from the late sixty, early seventy’s era. He has been given nicknames over the years like, The Merchant of Venom, The King of Zing, and Mr. Warmth. He has appeared in such films, as Kelly’s Heroes, Landis’s Innocent Blood, Casino, and Toy Story 1&2 but he is most known for his stand-up routine.
The documentary highlights his extraordinary career by conducting and interviews with him, some of today’s biggest comedy stars and close friends of his, including Chris Rock, Robin Williams, Clint Eastwood, Jay Leno, Whoopi Goldberg, and Billy Crystal, to name a few and includes TV and film clips of some of his complete work. The documentary also features bits of his never before seen footage of his stand-up comedy show in Las Vegas, as this should be a treat to fans of his.
Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project was a very good look into the career of Don Rickles. John Landis did a very good job here, as Don Rickles’s career and personal life before stardom was interesting to watch and learn about him. He treats his subject very well. He shows every aspect from his film and TV career to stand-up routines to Don Rickles relationship with his mother. Also, an interesting fact, according to the salient media website in the synopsis of this film Landis was the L.A. chapter president of The Don Rickles Fan Club. Landis does a good job in trying not to make this look like a fan appreciation film by putting himself in for an extended period to talk about his obsession with Don Rickles, as he only appeared briefly. He lets Rickles and others talk about him, which makes it a credible documentary instead of one person’s obsession. He also spends a little time by going behind the scenes before Rickle’s stand-up show, as he gives you the sense about that era of comedy.
What makes this film really succeed was the interview that Landis conducted with his friends and celebrities that were influenced by him and the funny bits featuring Rickles that he inserts into the film very well. He manages to get good stories from the interviews. I thought it provided very good stories and interesting things that I never knew about Don Rickles. The bits that Landis includes were very funny, like the incident when Rickles accidentally breaks Johnny Carson’s smoking box the night when he wasn’t on the Tonight Show, then Carson finds out the next show and goes to the studio where Rickles was filming a TV Show to get an explanation which I got a kick out of. It’s comedy that you don’t see, these days. I like how he includes these funny bits, as it didn’t make the film boring to watch and sense about the person.
Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project is a unique look at the life and career of him that is a must for all fans of comedy.
Dvd Extras:
2 Disc Set
Outtakes
Deleted scenes
I love Don Rickles and glad to hear John Landis has made a good film again.