A slight documentary that shines a light on the best parts of Albert Brooks comedy career. This isn’t a critical assessment as it is directed by Brooks closest friend(since high school!), Rob Reiner.
So what it is, is a loving tribute and a nice highlight reel of Brooks’ career.
I’m solidly middle aged and I had no connection to the Brooks who was a frequent guest of Carson and Letterman. Apparently he did something different, funny and weird every time out.
My first encounter with Brooks was watching Defending Your Life on HBO every time it came on. It’s clear that it was his finest moment as a writer, director and star and its well worth tracking down, even now, for those of you who haven’t seen it.
The doc takes a few moments to highlight his roles on the Simpsons and his turns as a bad guy is some good movies and, of course, as a desperate clownfish father trying to find his son.
A gaggle of comedy heavyweights do interviews and pay tribute and Brooks talks about his work.
Those of you who thought Sly (the documentary about Sylvester Stallone) was not enough of a meal will get even less here.
At least that one presented the real troubles Stallone faced in his family life and in his creative endevours.
Brooks certainly has his own family issues and the doc deals with those. But nothing lingers or sticks.
What I’m trying to get across is that I watched it last night, it was funny and I enjoyed it. And this morning I’m struggling to think of anything that would make it more than a highlight reel.
And it’s just not there.
It did make me want to watch Defending Your Life again. And I’ll probably watch Drive one more time and check out The Muse and Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World each for the first time.
As a commercial for Brooks’ career this does a fine job. And this isn’t a bad thing I suppose, give people their flowers while they are still with us.
Dark Highways 
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