My Breakfast with Blassie

For some reason I always believe Andy's on screen life wasn't totally scripted. When I realize what I've seen was completely planned and possibly even rehearsed, I feel a bit stupid. Then I remember that believing he was for real is all he wanted so then I feel better. The conversation here is boring. Blassie doesn't question if Andy really broke his neck and even says he told his wife Andy was really hurt when he saw it on tv. Blassie does have trouble hiding the fact that he's a total jerk but he manages to stay calm. The other people who were in Sambo's are the best part. It's clear they were meant to incite Blassie and even though they failed, they are the only reason to watch this.

This is Kaufman's attempt to parody the "heavy" discussion in MY DINNER WITH ANDRE. The result is amusing, if adolescent. It is sometimes hard to tell whether he and Blassie are playing characters or merely being themselves. In any case, they show a crude, typically male-chauvinistic attitude and portray the behaviour that goes with it. Whether this attitude is being satirized or condoned is not completely clear. Kaufman's humor is not for everyone, but if you like it, the movie is enjoyable.

So, let me begin by saying that I like Andy Kaufman, I like wrestling, I like parodies, and I like My Dinner With Andre. I wanted very much to love this film, and I wish that I could be as positive about this as some of the other reviews that I have read about it are, but I found this film quite spotty. The parts where it is really parodying My Dinner With Andre were very funny, sometimes outright hilarious. Specifically, the beginning and ending voice-overs were very funny and a lot of the conversation between Andy and Fred was pretty good, plus the absurdity of the situation was entertaining. However, Andy and Fred did a lot of interacting with the waitress, the four girls at the next table, and Bob Zmuda (who was not playing himself), and that was all stupid and pointless. It was just Andy doing his "I'm a big, famous star" schtick and Fred being rude and insensitive. Four or five minutes of that would have been okay, but the twenty-minutes to a half hour of it to which the audience is subjected is just dull and irritating. The whole thing would be excellent had they edited it down to twenty or twenty-five minutes. So, if you're an Andy Kaufman fan, I would recommend taking the time to see it, but only if the opportunity presents itself.

It's sad that both Andy Kaufman and Freddie Blassie are not with us to make a sequel to this hysterically funny film about them having breakfast at a local Sambo's restaurant in LA. In the movie the two are seen discussing the news and about what's been happening to themselves, mostly Andy's and Freddie's wrestling careers, in the world of entertainment.

Seems to be mostly add-libbed with some of the weird and funny customers joining in, I still can't get over that nosy fan, making the movie even funnier then it would have been with just Andy and Freddie.

One of the most ridiculous, but true, event discussed by the pair is Andy Kaufman's reign as the "Woman's Champion" in wrestling until he got in a bout with a man wrestler who almost broke Andy's neck.

One of the best comedies in years that didn't need any stick's or actions like flying through the air being blown up or getting hit in the face with a pie and all that toilet humor that seems to be a must in most comedies these days. All that was needed to make up laugh was just two very real and funny guys sitting at a table having breakfast and talking about what's been going on in the world and with their lives and of course the occasional weirdo at the Sambo's joining in to make thing even more outrageous.

Basically My Breakfest with Blassie is a hysterical classic. I came across this gem randomly 25 years after it's production. I have the distinct advantage of being both a fan of Kauffman and Blassie.

The dynamic that these two men have is incredible. Blassie is a tough, old-school, straight talking type and Kauffman plays to it wonderfully. Kauffman lets Blassie be Blassie and reacts often like a starry eyed kid in awe of his wisdom and knowledge.

This movie is funny if you get Kauffman. I read the review on here stating that this is "two guys eating...boring" or whatever. If that is your opinion then you simply don't grasp Kauffman's comedy.