Gilbert

No disrespect meant Gilbert Gottfried or any of the other people who appeared in this documentary, but it wasn't much of a documentary. It's a cute slice-of-life look at Gilbert Gottfried behind the scenes; but it explains almost nothing about where this unique and often bizarre persona we love comes from.

How and why did he create his signature stage voice? Why did he repeatedly get himself into trouble with his many famous "Too Soon" incidents? How did he develop that extreme brand of frugality? None of these questions are answered. There are vague hints of a personality disorder and daddy issues, but for a creative person what else is new. I don't think they even mentioned his signature squinting on stage, though I could be wrong.

I'm glad I didn't pay for this documentary, because it was really disappointing in terms of information. I'd still watch it again if it was on TV or something. But if anyone can recommend any interviews that actually explain how Gilbert Gottfried developed his unique style and quirks, I'd much rather see that.

Gilbert Gotfried makes a joke about having oral sex with an actress and not minding that it would give him cancer (relating to Michael Douglas, hint) and then says he'd even get some kind of dystrophy, which he ended up dying of...

The thing about this documentary, more of a home movie, is that he's obviously... very, very obviously dying of something...

He's very skinny and he can't talk very well, and it's not just him being his real self unlike the stage persona... so that aspect is the elephant in this otherwise somewhat cozy room...

They say he was a comic's comic (and one of the first to be cancelled), but that doesn't really seem like the right word, seeming more befitting to George Carlin...

He was more of a niche, a deliberately annoying niche, always playing annoying characters...

And despite Corpse Artie Lange being interviewed, Gilbert's best times on The Howard Stern Show was during the 1990's when Howard, talking about when Gilbert was sick in the hospital for a month, got the human side out of him, in spurts...

Which sums up this documentary, spurts, about a guy who is surprised he's rich, famous and has a wife, but, why? He's famous, he's rich... oh and his daughter is so adorable...

It's good he was able to retire with a loving family but it wouldn't be shocking if he had a wife in the 1980's... because that character he played was a character, no different than Rodney Dangerfield getting no respect when he was the most respected comedian ever...

Anyhow, it's a nice little slice, could have been deeper, but makes more sense now that he's already gone (it was made, of course, and released when alive) because it's obvious, again, that he's very sick here.

Gilbert (2017)

*** 1/2 (out of 4)

This is a rather unique and interesting documentary that takes a look at the life and career of comedian Gilbert Gottfried but instead of focusing on the early portion of his career this film takes a look at his more recent years including his relationship with his wife and two children.

Apparently there was a very long-running joke saying that the comedian would never get married and the first twenty or so minutes of the documentary covers his relationship with is wife. We really get to know Gilbert as he is today with the family life and then we slowly start to go back in time to hear stories about his parents, growing up, becoming a comedian and then hitting success.

I thought the film took a rather unique approach to the subject and I must admit that I have never been the biggest fan of Gilbert's. In fact, I honestly found him to be rather annoying but after watching this documentary I really came away seeing him quite differently and yes, this documentary actually made me like him. We get some terrific stories from his wife about what it's like to live with someone like him. We also get to hear from comedians like Jay Leno, Artie Lange, Whoopi Goldberg, Richard Belzer, Jim Gaffigan and Lewis Black who explain why everyone loves Gilbert.

There are plenty of video clips from his earliest performances on the stage as well as his transformation into a dirty comic where we get even more clips. There's also discussion of his now notorious tweets after the Japan tsumani and we get to hear from everyone involved on the jokes and the comic's timing in regards to something beign too soon.

GILBERT is certainly a very fun and at times touching look at the comedia. I think his fans will really enjoy the access into his life and I also think the film is good enough to even work for people like me who wasn't the biggest fans going into it.

I've been a fan of Gilbert Gottfried ever since seeing the Problem Child movies as a kid and one of his early (and few) stand-up specials. Gilbert also made what seemed like countless cameos in movies all throughout the 80's and 90's and even had a brief stint as part of the Saturday Night Live cast. In the 2000's he was was still famous mostly for his role as the Aflac mascot (the duck) and was a frequent guest- roaster. Presently, he is still a touring comedian and has a very well received and informative podcast, in which he and his co-host, chat with Hollywood legends, such as Dick Van Dyke, Dick Cavett and all sorts of other Dicks..

Chances are, if you're reading this, you already know Gilbert in some aspect, maybe for his infamous telling of the Aristocrats joke, his infamous firing for his tweets, or some other infamy surrounding the prolific comedian.. What you most likely don't know, is that Gilbert is a husband, a father, a brother and son. The squinting eyed, harsh voiced, foul mouthed comedian is a human being, but barely.

Sometimes Gilbert comes off more as an alien who crash landed on Earth during puberty and was never quite able to blend in amongst actual humans. This documentary shows you the REAL Gilbert Gottfried and makes a fine attempt at explaining who he is and why he is... It's interesting, funny and heart warming. If you've ever asked yourself "I wonder who would ever have sex with that Jewish guy who squints and yells a lot" this movie is for you.

I love Gilbert. I've known Gilbert's act when I started listening to the Howard Stern show, Gilbert always had a special place in my heart. It was difficult to separate the comedian verse the real Gilbert. There were hints of his love life and then eventually his family life on Howard's show and at that point, I knew there was much more to Gilbert than the voice. I'm so happy I watched this documentary about his life. You'd would never know that Gilbert is the type of dad that would leave cute notes in his children's lunch boxes or frequently visits his sisters. I think what goes unsaid about Gilbert is that he is a master of creating a comedic personal that could tell the most offensive jokes and while making his audience laugh.