Conan O’Brien Can’t Stop (2011)

Oct 6

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You’d think that a behind-the-scenes documentary in the immediate aftermath of Conan O’Brien being paid $30 million to walk away from his dream job hosting The Tonight Show would have plenty of drama and revelations. It doesn’t. This thin documentary mostly just tags along on O’Brien’s multi-city comedy tour during the time he was contractually obligated to not appear on TV. O’Brien doesn’t go into much detail about the Tonight Show brouhaha, making only vague references to his ouster in conversations about confronting his anger. Fans of the gawky comedian will be put off by O’Brien’s often hurtful, prickly behavior toward his subordinates and co-workers. He has a biting wit but often that wit has a discernible edge, making everyone feel uncomfortable, and now you too at home. His bitterness always seems to be bubbling. He’s a conflicted man, bemoaning meeting and greeting fans, citing the exhaustive nature of always being “on,” but then in the next moment he’ll charge into a crowd to feel alive again. Conan O’Brien Can’t Stop is a lackluster documentary that has a few laughs since it does chronicle a road show about funny people, but it’s not too long before even O’Brien fans might wish that he’d just stop.

Nate’s Grade: C

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About natezoebl

One man. Many movies. I am a cinephile (which spell-check suggests should really be "epinephine"). I was told that a passion for movies was in his blood since I was conceived at a movie convention. While scientifically questionable, I do remember a childhood where I would wake up Saturday mornings, bounce on my parents' bed, and watch Siskel and Ebert's syndicated TV show. That doesn't seem normal. At age 17, I began writing movie reviews and have been unable to stop ever since. I was the co-founder and chief editor at PictureShowPundits.com (2007-2014) and now write freelance. I have over 1400 written film reviews to my name and counting. I am also a proud member of the Central Ohio Film Critics Association (COFCA) since 2012. In my (dwindling) free time, I like to write uncontrollably. I wrote a theatrical genre mash-up adaptation titled "Our Town... Attacked by Zombies" that was staged at my alma mater, Capital University in the fall of 2010 with minimal causalities and zero lawsuits. I have also written or co-written sixteen screenplays and pilots, with one of those scripts reviewed on industry blog Script Shadow. Thanks to the positive exposure, I am now also dipping my toes into the very industry I've been obsessed over since I was yea-high to whatever people are yea-high to in comparisons.

Posted on October 6, 2011, in 2011 Movies and tagged , , . Bookmark the permalink. Leave a comment.

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