Conan O'Brien Can't Stop

Conan O'Brien Can't Stop (2011) *** (out of 4) Good documentary taking a look at the tour Conan O'Brien went on after being fired from The Tonight Show and part of his agreement with the company was that he didn't appear on television for six months. So, unable to be on the air, O'Brien set out for a forty-four show tour and we see some of the act but most of the documentary shows the star behind-the-scenes. Fans of O'Brien should be entertained by this documentary and especially if you weren't able to catch any of the actual shows. There are sequences of the concerts that are shown here including his eight stages after losing a talk show as well as some musical numbers that are shown in their complete form. I think the most interesting thing about the documentary is getting to see O'Brien off the stage and just going from city to city trying to find the energy to bring it each night and then having other commitments on his days off. It was really interesting seeing how O'Brien had to bring it each night, try to keep that energy going and the entire time you can tell that he's just getting worn down by everything. There aren't any graphic outbursts where he just cracks and goes crazy but it's still interesting to see the toll that the road has on him. It was also fun seeing how the star would adjust to the various demands that were put on him and just seeing how part of his life was working during this period of his life. Those expecting some ambush on NBC are going to be disappointed as that's not here. I think the behind-the-scenes look at the tour were the most fascinating parts and those interested in that type of thing should enjoy the film.

A surprising powerful and interesting look into the mind of one of the most intelligent, innovative and personally inspiring minds existing in our current culture. Conan O'Brien is a brilliant man who was treated very unfairly by NBC and this picture does a great job of documenting all of the turmoil and conflicting emotions that came as a result of that debacle, along with his concert tour that came afterwards when he was banned from being on television. Conan is brave enough for letting this relatively dark chapter of his life be put on film forever, and the makers of the film used it as an opportunity to showcase the man behind the hilarious hour of television he gives us four nights a week. The film did a superb job of stripping back the layers and showing every side of this man, from his self-effacing humor to his anger over the pressures of the tour and his unjust treatment by NBC, to his genuine joy for life and performing in front of an audience. This is a man who spent over a decade getting to perform to a crowd and make people laugh several times a week, living his dream only to have it stripped away in one of the most childish and bizarre disasters in late night television history. We get to see what happens when that dream of his came crashing down and he had to build himself back up. There are so many great scenes throughout, ones that had me in stitches like when he laughed at the fact that he would never be caught dead on a network like TBS and ones that had me almost in tears of joy or frustration, like when one of his back-up singers brought in about a dozen people to meet him after an exhausting show he performed that he now had to entertain or when he was forced to schmooze a Hollywood crowd at a party for hours before having to do another insanely exhausting show. They really highlighted the pressure that was put on this guy almost every day and how easily people take for granted someone with a genuinely kind heart who just wants to make people happy. That being said, they didn't make Conan ever seem like this martyr for amusement all the time, they definitely didn't shy away from showing some unlikable characteristics of his. They let him have his moments where he was just being a frustrated jerk, which made the whole thing very human and authentic. I love Conan to death and he will always inspire me and the film would have rang very false if there hadn't been moments where he as kind of a prick. In his situation I feel like it would be pretty impossible not to have a ton of moments where the pressure and frustration become too much and you just want to lash out. But his honest craving for making people happy shines through almost all of the time, even in his darkest moments of depression and confusion over what he was supposed to do at that time. It's a fantastic documentary and it really exceeded my expectations. It made me laugh even more than I was expecting it to, which was a ton, and provided a surprising level of insight into his psyche at that time and who he really is behind everything. His relationships with those around him were heartwarming, especially the comradery between him and his assistant Sona; I thought their sarcastic back-and-forth and constant support of one another was really beautiful. Their relationship alone is enough to merit watching the film. In the end, it's a film that had me laughing frequently and thinking quite often about the levels of who Conan is and, ultimately, the levels of who I am as well. He will always be a huge inspiration to me and this exploration just further solidifies that.

I don't mean to come across as hip by saying that I wasn't a Conan O'Brien fan, it's just that I've been sort of out of it for many years, literally. I don't have American TV where I live and so I've never watched his program(s). I had no idea about his NBC break-up and that whole mess. I knew little about him except that he went to Harvard and wrote some funny stuff for The Simpsons. The documentary shows many sides to this performer. He's funny, intelligent, handsome, and a talented musician. What is interesting about this documentary is that he allowed himself to be painted in so many different lights. On the one hand, he is an exceedingly gracious celebrity who goes way out of his way to be much more than civil to his followers, yet we also see how this tears at him and invades his personal side. I don't think that I've ever seen anything quite this honest. I think that I'm a fan now.

In 2009, Conan O'Brien replaces Jay Leno as the host of the Tonight Show. Seven months later, he is let go and Leno returns. NBC pays him a large payout but he is forbidden from TV, radio and the internet for 6 months. He decides to put on a live variety show across US and Canada, The Legally Prohibited Tour, with his TV cohorts. This is mostly behind-the-scene footage. In that way, this is not really a concert film. This is a slice of his work life. One gets to see his work process. It's fascinating for fans but also an insight into the comedy process for non-fans. I'm a big fan and this is lots of fun. His bit with Jack McBrayer is hilarious and also ends with something interesting. It also shows Conan to be human with anger, doubts and working it all out.

I've never been a huge Conan fan...not saying I didn't think he was funny, just never watched him alot to know. But I love documentaries so I watched this as I did not watch TV during all the Leno/Conan thing and knew nothing of what went on. I will say I'm NOT a huge Leno fan and I do know his work. From what I saw he wanted this tour. Right? But all I heard and saw from him oh, 90% of the time was whining, complaining and acting like a diva. Several times he was downright mean. Get over it. Working is hard. After seeing all his little fits and cursing because FANS wanted get his autograph I'd had enough. He's full of himself and from what I saw NOT funny and definitely NOT nice. The documentary itself was done well and showed all aspects of the tour. The good and the bad. (Thus my low rating because of his actions) so thanks for not editing that all out to make him look like a great guy. So now I know I'm not a Conan fan. Thank God.

I've heard from several people that his attitude in this documentary has damaged their perception of Conan as a person. In some ways, I can understand where they're coming from; his humor on a person-to-person basis is much more biting and acidic than it is on television, and the film's approach of basically lining up every joke told behind the scenes, back-to-back-to-back, does give the impression that he's constantly picking on anyone who dares to enter the dressing room. That it also cuts away so quickly after every punchline doesn't give us a chance to understand the context of the conversation or the target's response to his barbs. The japes are constantly funny, but that uncertainty about their reception ultimately keeps the laughs from flowing freely. There's also an impression that he's always on, telling jokes without taking a breath - even during quiet moments at home with his wife and kids. To some, that might make him seem imposing and attention-seeking, but I took it as his way of dealing with the stress of an overloaded schedule, uncertain future and relentless media attention that he was working through at the time, just weeks after his public blowup with NBC. Conan runs with a very funny group of guys, and their puns combined with the glimpses both on the stage and behind the curtains at his "Prohibited Tour" make for some great material. It's just not an entirely friendly atmosphere for unbridled comedy.

This was decent and shows some really cool insight in who Conan O'Brien is as a person. However, I would've liked much more on stage footage, especially some of the stand-up, and less singing and behind the scenes content. Sure, the behind the scene stuff is what gives some of the insight but a lot of it got rather repetitive and boring. I was hoping for a raw, stand-up special with some behind the scenes content, instead what we get is a documentary on Conan's tour with a few brief flashes of comedy thrown in. If you're a fan of Conan's show and his style of humor then sure, check it out. If you're more a fan of stand-up than this isn't really what you're looking for.

It takes a certain audience to appreciate Conan O'Brien, but the ones who do don't just appreciate him, they worship him as if he were the messiah sent on Earth. Conan O'Brien Can't Stop could also be called "The Lost Months of Conan" as it focuses on his the six months Conan O'Brien was not allowed to be on TV, the radio, etc. Instead, he went on a forty-two show standup tour called "The Legally Prohibited from Being Funny on Television Tour." The infamous Tonight Show controversy stemmed from NBC cut Conan's run on television, and were hoping to move him past the midnight runtime. Conan refused to do so, and thus NBC payed him $40 million in a send-off package. That is when he couldn't be on TV or any other media outlet for six months. The documentary shows the tours, the behind the scenes footage of the concert, and even some clips of the concert itself. There are scenes of Conan with his wife and children, in his dressing room, and some scenes where he is visibly overworked, exhausted, but persistent on his journey to provide his fans with the satisfaction of seeing him in person. Conan isn't the only one stressed here, his support team is also just as overworked and as tired as he is. He tells them what to do, when to do it, and how to do it. He is definitely the one and only boss on this tour. The abuse they take is sometimes shocking. But I'm guessing what we see only happens so often. I can't imagine the team being treated like this all the time because why would they still be with them? This is probably a bad time to see Conan if you expected him happy and cheery. But even with his hectic schedule, he manages to sport his crazy and over-the-top antics at his concert. I was never a big Conan fan. I rarely watch his current show on TBS. As for him being funny I think when he is talking into the mic doing traditional standup he can be hilarious and clever, but I think when he is jumping around on stage, doing goofy and ridiculous movements he can be about as funny and entertaining as Jim Carrey. That's not a compliment. If I were to conduct a list of my favorite comedians Conan would be higher than Jim Carrey, but not by too much. Some of the one on one interviews with Conan, with him being calm and attentive, are actually handled maturely which leads me to believe that when in a calm state of mind, one could carry a conversation with Conan till the end of the day. But when he is sporting the Jim Carrey image I doubt a very meaningful conversation could be held. I didn't watch him on The Tonight Show, I don't watch really any late night programming. It has never been my thing. But Conan seems like he's doing something right to be getting die hard support from various people across the states. What people see in him, I'm guessing is his out there style, and his dare to be different (sometimes stupid) attitude. Conan O'Brien Can't Stop shows that Conan loves the sights and sounds of an audience and that has a positive and negative effect on his team and family. Sometimes he treats them more like an audience than close friends. The bravery of embarking on a huge tour out of nowhere right after the rug had been pulled out from under him is stunning and I applaud him for his persistency and his desire to achieve satisfaction from everyone around him. I think that's what we all are looking for in a sense. Starring: Conan O'Brien, Andy Richter, Jimmy Vivino, Scott Healy, Mike Merritt, and James Wormworth. Directed by: Rodman Flender.

'CONAN O'BRIEN CAN'T STOP': Three Stars (Out of Five) Documentary following Conan O'Brien and his six month comedy tour 'The Legally Prohibited from Being Funny on Television Tour', during the time he was banned from appearing on TV by NBC (after his dispute with scheduling). The film appears to be a pretty open and honest examination of all the drama O'Brien was caught up in, showing him often not in the most flattering light. It's funny, due to O'Brien and others usual comedic banter, but at the same time a serious look at that stage in the comedic talk show host's life. It works on some levels and not so much on others due to some mediocre directing and editing in my opinion. It was directed by Rodman Flender, who has a great deal of experience directing television and B horror films (like 'LEPRECHAUN 2'). I think in the hands of another director the film could have been a much more efficient and entertaining documentary. The movie begins by explaining what happened to Conan and his 'TONIGHT SHOW' gig with NBC and how he got banned from performing on TV for six months. It then gives us behind the scenes footage of Conan and his crew coming up with the tour idea, selling it, coming up with material for it and then doing the tour itself. We get several scenes of Conan interacting with his TV crew, primarily his personal assistant, as well as celebrity friends of his (who continue to drop by his show). The movie leads all the way up to the end of the tour and Conan beginning his new late-night talk show at TBS. The movie does seem to be very honest and genuine, with Conan appearing as a bit of a self centered dick throughout. He had just lost his dream job (of hosting 'THE TONIGHT SHOW'), so it is understandable, but still this may throw off a lot of his hardcore fans. His personal assistant seems to get the most of his emotional abuse and the film does a good job of allowing the viewer to relate and sympathize with her (as well as Conan himself) at times. The film does drag a little sometimes as well with the general narrative often feeling slow paced and unenthusiastic. Still the film has plenty of laughs and it does give a good look at that time in the popular comedian's life. It also does a good job of presenting him as just an average guy: not always trying to be funny and often getting frustrated and being mean to those around him as a result. It's not a perfect film but it does serve it's purpose well. Watch our review show 'MOVIE TALK' at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4s7ci6l5gkI

A documentary on Conan O'Brien's comedy tour of the U.S. and Canada after leaving his post at "The Tonight Show" and severing his relationship with NBC. Early on, we see some good humor with the mock fight at the protests (although this is more a reflection on Conan's fans than the man himself). But then, it goes wild... I have mixed feelings on this. I love Conan, and the clips from the tour (on stage) are pretty good. But the behind the scenes moments are strange -- he sometimes comes off as angry (at the wrong people) and childish. He was wrongfully removed from NBC, but he is far more bitter than probably necessary... though this improves as the tour continues. (Roger Ebert actually sums up the negativity nicely: "Everyone around him pays a price. He relentlessly nibbles away at his support system, picks on his personal assistant, needles his sidekick Andy Richter and dominates his "writers" so compulsively that I can hardly recall one of them being allowed to say anything at meetings. He seems to consider them more of an audience.") Some people have commented on the anti-Semitic comment made by a fan. I do not really wish to get into it, but I will say Conan deserves a little credit for putting the kid in his place without being too harsh... it was a bad word to say, but was clearly not meant as hatred.