I Am Chris Farley (2015)

Genre: Documentary

Directed by: Brent Hodge and Derik Murray

Cast: David Spade, Bob Odenkirk, Tom Arnold, Mike Myers

Running time: 95 minutes

This 2015 documentary is about the life of comedian Chris Farley, from his birth in Madison, Wisconsin, to his success on Saturday Night Live and in Hollywood, and to his untimely yet not totally unexpected death at the age of 33.

Along with a good deal of archive footage of Farley, this documentary gives a voice to a large number of personalities, all sharing their love for the deceased comedian. First off, we hear from Chris Farley’s brothers and sister. They talk about their childhood with Chris. Then, we hear from friends about his rise to success in the improv world of Chicago. Then came SNL and the years of excess with drugs and alcohol. It got worse and worse, and we hear from many a person who was by his side at that time.

I Am Chris Farley is a great documentary for fans of the late comedian. It is a beautiful tribute to a man that gave all he had to get a laugh, often forgetting to think about himself in the process. It might also help some other people discover who he was. As a longtime fan, I loved it. I laughed, I shed a tear…I was profoundly touched.

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