In the beginning of Alex Braverman’s documentary Thank You Very Much, there is a clip of performance artist/comedian Andy Kaufman stating how we would make a film: he would start with the climax, show the title “The End,” show a bit of blackness, show the climax again, “The End” again, then rinse and repeat until the audience realizes they’re not seeing the end, they’re just witnessing the beginning. This askew vision barely breaks the surface of Kaufman’s impenetrable method of madness that has left his body of work viewed as both polarizing and inspirational. Thank You Very Much attempts to unveil the thought process of a performer who was ahead of his time, an unpredictable, enigmatic, abrasive, deconstructive comedian who is no doubt responsible for the Eric Andrés (Bad Trip), Tim Robinsons (Friendship), and Zach Galifianakises (The Hangover Trilogy) of the world. A comedian’s comedian, as one would put it.
If you’d like to learn about Thank You Very Much in a spoiler-free capacity, head over to EoM Contributor Justin Waldman’s initial theatrical release review.
Andy Kaufman in the documentary THANK YOU VERY MUCH. Photo courtesy of Drafthouse Films.
Braverman’s documentary is produced by Josh and Benny Safdie (Uncut Gems) and the film covers the life and times of Kaufman with a frantic energy that matches both Kaufman’s humor and the Safdies’ brand of filmmaking. The talking heads in this film also shed light on the comedian’s process and his strange way of approaching entertainment, the list ranging from Kaufman’s right-hand man, Bob Zmuda, to his girlfriend, Lynne Marguiles, to Taxi sitcom co-stars Danny DeVito and Marliu Henner and many more. One would probably consider themselves exasperated with Andy Kaufman material such as Miloš Forman’s fantastic biopic Man on the Moon (1999) or the great Chris Martin documentary Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond which delved into Jim Carrey’s surreal process of portraying the comedian. Still, this documentary manages to find depths into Kaufman’s mystery and his effect on comedy to this day.
Danny DeVito in the documentary THANK YOU VERY MUCH. Photo courtesy of Drafthouse Films.
A shrewd documentarian, Braverman balances his desire to understand Kaufman’s comedy and what makes Kaufman Kaufman with restraint so he can, leave a little bit of mystery to the audience’s amazement and befuddlement. The film has moments where Kaufman’s genius is shown for itself without any voiceover explanation or talking head interference. This is where the documentary shines at its greatest — letting its subject’s genius speak for itself. A shining moment to note is when Kaufman gaslights the audience at one of his shows, telling them he gives up and starts to cry. As he wails, he does so in a rhythmic way, leading to him banging away on his bongos. Kaufman turning a self-deprecating meltdown into a transition for another musical number is a transcendent moment to behold and speaks to Kaufman’s unique talent. But as much as the film shines light on his genius, it also sheds light on the more controversial side of his career. The film puts a focus on Kaufman’s unlikeable, abrasive alter ego Tony Clifton, a foul-mouthed lounge singer whose sole purpose is to antagonize the audience, sing horrible musical numbers, and terrorize Andy Kaufman himself. Mind-screw aside, there’s also Kaufman’s “sexist” era in which he challenged women to wrestling, having an even more polarizing effect on audiences to the point where he was banned from Saturday Night Live (this also gives light to a not-so-known anecdote of a feud between Kaufman and legendary television producer Dick Ebersol). Kaufman was never interested if people were humored by him, if they resented him, hated him, or were confused by him, as long as their reactions were real. His performance is not concerned with acclaim or dismissal, it’s concerned with leaving you guessing what is real and what is not.
Tony Clifton in the documentary THANK YOU VERY MUCH. Photo courtesy of Drafthouse Films.
Thank You Very Much, which takes its namesake from the catchphrase of Kaufman’s standup character Foreign Man which served as the inspiration for his beloved character Latka on Taxi, is a documentary that neither aims to fully penetrate the enigma that is Kaufman nor totally lets his mystery off the hook. The talking heads (both in archival footage and present-day interviews) Braverman utilizes definitely lend assistance to not just explaining what Kaufman meant to them but also what Kaufman meant to comedy. From Danny DeVito’s colorful imitation of Tony Clifton and Latka’s accent to Bob Zmuda’s endearing stories of his best friend to Lynne Marguiles’s touching stories of a lover she may not have completely knew but loved no less, Braverman leaves room in his documentary for both footage of the man Kaufman was and the stories that make Kaufman both man and myth. This 1080 p Blu-ray release from MVD has a lean list of supplemental features that includes a home video of Andy Kaufman (filmed by Richard Beymer) and rare performance footage from the Hollywood Improv. This release is a must have for any fans of cringe comedy or comedy mythos.
Thank You Very Much Special Features:
- Andy Kaufman Home Video, filmed by Richard Beymer (West Side Story)
- Rare Performance Footage from the Hollywood Improv (HD, 20:05)
- Optional English Subtitles
- Original Theatrical Trailer
Available on VOD and digital March 26th, 2025.
Available on Blu-ray and DVD December 16th, 2025.
For more information, head to the official Drafthouse Films Thank You Very Much webpage.
To purchase, head to the official MVD Entertainment Group Thank You Very Much webpage.
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Categories: Home Release, Recommendation
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