Billy Crystal co-wrote and directed this highly satisfying Drama/Comedy (in that order) about the downfall of a fictional Jewish stage comedian (played by Crystal) named Buddy Young, Jr. Starting way back from when he was a funny child, entertaining the adult relatives in the living room at holidays, Buddy displayed a knack for offbeat Don Rickels-like humor, eventually got famous and had himself a hit television show in the early 1960s, but then fizzled out into oblivion. His long-suffering brother (David Paymer) took on the part of his agent who lived in Buddy's shadow and stood by him for all those years, despite having to endure his frequent conceit and abuse.
Most of the story centers around Crystal and Paymer in old age makeups, well past their prime but still trying to get Buddy some meaningful gigs. Unfortunately, Buddy is a short-tempered and self-centered egotist who is his own worst enemy. Helen Hunt plays a young newcomer to the agent business who's never heard of Buddy but takes him on to try and find old Bud some worthwhile jobs. Crystal is surprisingly strong in his turn as Young, not always likable but someone you can still feel for. But it's David Paymer as his sensitive brother who really turns in the best performance. People shouldn't go into MR. Saturday NIGHT expecting nonstop laughs and craziness; while it's got its share of both strong and weak jokes, the thrust of the piece is the emotional relationship between these two brothers. *** out of ****
Most of the story centers around Crystal and Paymer in old age makeups, well past their prime but still trying to get Buddy some meaningful gigs. Unfortunately, Buddy is a short-tempered and self-centered egotist who is his own worst enemy. Helen Hunt plays a young newcomer to the agent business who's never heard of Buddy but takes him on to try and find old Bud some worthwhile jobs. Crystal is surprisingly strong in his turn as Young, not always likable but someone you can still feel for. But it's David Paymer as his sensitive brother who really turns in the best performance. People shouldn't go into MR. Saturday NIGHT expecting nonstop laughs and craziness; while it's got its share of both strong and weak jokes, the thrust of the piece is the emotional relationship between these two brothers. *** out of ****