Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project

"Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project" is an engaging documentary: a portrait of a consummate entertainer who always remained true to who he was. It's directed by filmmaker John Landis ("Animal House", "The Blues Brothers", "An American Werewolf in London"), who was an 18-year-old production assistant on "Kelly's Heroes", the WWII actioner that co-starred Rickles. Here, Landis creates what is essentially a feature-length love letter to the master of the comedic insult.

Essential points about Rickles are conveyed: this was a comic who operated without a filter. He also didn't work from a script, and was often at his best when riffing; picking out audience members and finding something with which he could tease them. As singer Steve Lawrence points out, he could tell just about any sort of ethnic joke, and get away with it, because the bottom line is that he got people to laugh.

Mostly, the project is assembled from many testimonials from contemporaries and admirers of Mr. Rickles, and we get to see some of his famous TV moments. 'Tonight Show' legend Johnny Carson confronting Rickles over Carsons' broken cigarette box - while Rickles is trying to shoot his own program in the building - is particularly hysterical.

Only after the halfway point does this briefly turn into a more traditional "I was born in..." sort of life story, and the project loses some momentum in the final third by taking too much time to discuss the evolution of Las Vegas. Some of the editing is a little abrupt; one would like to see an interviewee finish their thought before Landis moves on to the next one.

But it remains pleasant to watch, with brief bits about popular Rickles roles (like the voice of Mr. Potato Head in the "Toy Story" franchise), and a generous dose of laughs. We also learn that one sure way to Mr. Rickles' heart was to ask after his family, whom he loved dearly. (An interesting anecdote is that he was first intrigued by future wife Barbara when she proved to be resistant to his shtick. And he took that as a challenge!)

Even for a decade after this film came out, Rickles was still performing with his trademark energy and biting wit.

Seven out of 10.

Loving documentary about comedian Don Rickles from director John Landis. Part biography, part tribute by past and contemporary entertainers, and also a dissection about why Rickles racist and seemingly mean-spirited schtick goes over so well with audiences. For anyone familiar with Rickles, the film doesn't really cover any new ground, but the best part of the film is the interviews with the people who worked with him in Las Vegas back in the Rat Pack days. Sadly there aren't so many of them still alive, but there are chats with the likes of Bob Newhart, Steve Lawrence, Ed McMahon, Debbie Reynolds, Jack Carter, Joan Rivers, Keely Smith, Tom and Dick Smothers, and Frankie Avalon. It's their behind the scenes stories from back in the day that I found most interesting and wish the film had focused more on, although it is also somewhat interesting to hear younger generations of comedians commenting on Rickles' influence (Richard Lewis, Chris Rock, Sarah Silverman, Whoopie Goldberg, Robin Williams, Rosanne Barr, Dave Attell, Christopher Guest, Billy Crystal, Penn Jillette, Bobby Slayton, George Lopez, Jay Leno, Jimmy Kimmel, Harry Shearer, Bob Saget) or hearing actors and filmmakers he's worked with share stories (Harry Dean Stanton, Clint Eastwood, Robert De Niro, Sidney Poitier, Martin Scorsese, Ernest Borgnine, Carl Reiner, Roger Corman, James Caan, John Lasseter, John Stamos). Overall, this is worth watching for fans of Rickles, but is not really insightful enough to draw in a wider unfamiliar audience.

I would love to hear Don Rickles. George Carlin, Richard Pryor and Robin Williams take on our current cancel culture. Gotta believe they wouldn't cave.

Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project (2007)

*** 1/2 (out of 4)

Extremely entertaining documentary from director John Landis opens up with him talking about the first time he met Don Rickles and then we get to see the man himself from a Las Vegas show in 2006 where it's obvious that he hasn't lost a step over the decades. We then countless footage of Rickles from his movies, TV shows, appearances on Johnny Carson and other shows and just about every other form of media out there. You know you're popular when a documentary on you can bring in the number of famous faces that we see here talking about Rickles. Just a few of them include DeNiro, Eastwood, Scorsese, Rock, Borgnine, Crystal, Williams, Corman, Goldberg, Larry King, Leno, Caan, Richard Lewis, Newhart, Philbin, Carl Reiner, Poitier, Sarah Silverman, McMahon, Harry Dean Stanton, Debbie Reynolds and many, many more. If you're a fan of Rickles or if you're someone who has never heard of him, this documentary is going to appeal to both sides because Landis really does do a great job at not only telling you the life story of the man but we get so many great stories that you can't help but walk away from this feeling as if you know him. The film does a very good job at mixing all of the interview segments in with the archival footage and then we get the added bonus of Rickles himself talking about various stages in his career. This includes how he was discovered, working Las Vegas and various other personal things like his marriage, which has lasted over forty years. I think the best thing the film has going for it are the various clips that really make you realize what a talent Rickles was and you realize that he really wasn't afraid to go after anyone. We get some terrific clips from The Tonight Show, The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast and various other specials that the comedian did. Plus there's a terrific bit from a 2006 concert where Rickles is just on a full attack against everyone.

If you love the humor of Don Rickles, then this film is for you! It consists of lots of clips from candid interviews with the man, his friends, Hollywood folks who love him as well as clips from his stand- up routine and TV/movie appearances. It's everything Rickles you'd ever want to see or know. You learn about his wife, his mother, his old beloved agent, his friend Harry, his buddy Bob Newhart, Johnny Carson and much much. Throughout, Rickles is naturally very abrasive and silly and you get a bit of a feel as to what it was like in the days of old Vegas. It's all very well assembled and the people making the film obviously had great respect and love for the guy. And, amazingly, years after this was made, Rickles is STILL on the road entertaining folks! Well worth seeing.