The King of Comedy (2002) Martin Scorsese's cynical take on the nature of celebrity remains shockingly topical and hilariously squirm-inducing nearly 20 years after its initial theatrical release. In a…
Movie on DVD Review

The King of Comedy (2002)

Reviewed by Doug Brod | Jan 10, 2003
Robert De Niro, The King of Comedy | 'COMEDY' OF ERRORS De Niro plays a stand-up guy who kidnaps Lewis in ''King''
'COMEDY' OF ERRORS De Niro plays a stand-up guy who kidnaps Lewis in ''King''
EW's GRADE
A

Details Release Date: Dec 17, 2002; DVD Release Date: Dec 17, 2002; Movie Rated: PG; Genres: Comedy, Drama; With: Robert De Niro and Jerry Lewis

Martin Scorsese's cynical take on the nature of celebrity remains shockingly topical and hilariously squirm-inducing nearly 20 years after its initial theatrical release. In a role he would essentially revisit with diminishing returns in 1996's ''The Fan,'' Robert De Niro plays delusional nobody Rupert Pupkin in King of Comedy, an aspiring stand-up who ends up kidnapping a talk-show host (Jerry Lewis, at his supercilious best) in order to get his one shot at TV stardom. Whether Rupert's whining to his (unseen) buttinsky of a mother or mishandling cue cards crucial to his abduction scheme, De Niro proves he was a master comic actor way before starring in ''Analyze This'' and ''Meet the Parents.''

Originally posted Jan 10, 2003 Published in issue #690 Jan 10, 2003 Order article reprints