Anne and Jerry

 

Shortly before she died, Joan Rivers was asked by an interviewer to give a one-word description of some noted personalities.   When asked for a word to describe Ben Stiller, Joan answered quickly.

"Lucky."

That's kind of the way I feel about Ben Stiller.   I don't think he's as talented as he thinks he is.   That said, even the most mediocre of talents can have shining moments.   And this documentary on Apple is just that.  Ben Stiller's shining moment.

Of course, his subject matter was one that you couldn't louse up.   His own parents who had wonderful comedy careers both together and separately.   Who doesn't relish those great routines they did on the Ed Sullivan Show.   And, later on, who didn't roar whenever Jerry made an appearance as George Costanza's father on "Seinfeld?"

The impetus for this film is one that lots of us can identify with.   Cleaning out the apartment of a deceased parent.  Ben and his sister Amy are doing just that with their folks' Manhattan apartment.   The place is loaded with photos and home movies and they are all shared miraculously with the audience.   The person who served as archivist on this production deserves an Oscar.

As the Stiller kids revisit their parents' lives, the historical piece here also serves as a therapy session.  Indeed, Mom and Dad did have their issues and a lot of that was passed onto their children.   Certainly, it's nothing that the rest of us haven't experienced as you do a posthumous analysis or two.  The end result is a fascinating movie about show business...and more importantly...life.

Thanks to this film, you get the best of Stiller and Meara.   And, ironically, the best of their son as well.

LEN'S RATING:  Four stars.

Dinner last night:  Hamburger.