'Conan O'Brien Can't Stop' Review

After a day of already seeing four movies, I decided that I could fit one last film in. But this movie was not just any movie; it was a documentary that followed Conan O’Brien, one of my favorite comics, after the highly publicized schism between him and NBC. This documentary was the perfect end to my long day as I had just gotten out of the award winning film Polisse that has a less than cheerful ending to say the least. Conan O’Brien Can’t Stop is a hilarious documentary that had me howling with laughter and physically slapping my knee and clapping my hands. The Irish tag team of director Rodman Flender and subject Conan O’Brien objectively showcase Conan’s uninhibited antics that will make audiences scream with laughter, as well as, cringe with disdain at scenes that show Conan in a less than flattering light. Either way, this candid behind the scene look at comedic genius Conan O’Brien will have audiences walking out of the theatre with smiles on their faces and, perhaps, an inkling desire to this documentary a second time.

Conan O’Brien Can’t Stop was bar-none the funniest movie I attended of the entire Cannes International Film Festival. From one of the first scenes of the documentary where Conan O’Brien pulls up beside a Hollywood star-homes tour bus and leans out the window to tell them whom he is, to the closing scenes of Conan bringing his two-month nationwide “Legally Prohibited From Being Funny On Television” tour to a close in Atlanta, Georgia, this documentary will keep you wildly entertained.

One thing that I particularly liked about the documentary is how director Rodman Felder assumes that the viewing audience is somewhat familiar with Conan’s well promulgated split with NBC thus wasting no time in getting to know Conan in his life after NBC lifestyle. Rather than dedicate a good portion of the documentary to explaining the ins-and-outs of how NBC decided to bring Jay Leno back into the primetime late-night spot and pushing Conan O’Brien’s Late Show back to the lesser-viewed 12:05am slot, Felder focuses on how Conan turned his frustrations and anger into comedic genius showcased in a nationwide tour (and now a documentary). Though the majority of the movie follows Conan on the road during his two-month cross-country journey starting in Eugene, Oregon and ending in Atlanta, Georgia, the beginning of the film does delve into Conan’s thoughts and frustrations with being released by NBC. He tells the camera that, “Sometimes, I’m so angry I can’t breathe” when talking about the situation. The documentary does tap into Conan’s feelings about his situation at times, but for the most part it focuses on the struggles and successes he faces while on tour.

Conan O’Brien Can’t Stop is the absolute perfect title for this documentary because Conan O’Brien literally cannot stop performing. It’s as if he has to be performing or in the spotlight at all times. Conan even admits to this. But as a viewer you do not feel put off by his comments as if they are in vain, but instead they are put into context by the behind the scenes footage of Conan’s incredible work ethic. He admits that during the tour he lost 15 pounds because of how much of himself he was giving to the audience and everyone around him, and after watching his grueling work schedule you understand why. Whether it’s Conan’s off-the-wall humor during writing sessions or signing tons and tons of autographs, by not being able to stop, the viewer is given a sneak peak into the positive and negative effects the road has on Conan O’Brien’s mentality.

There are plenty of times during the documentary when the audience is shown a side of Conan that is completely foreign and unaddressed during his late-night television shows. He is often shown as a frustrated and irritated stage performer who cannot stand having to meet and greet with strangers, taking pictures with fans, and having so many expectations demanded of him. Whether it’s Conan bitching about having to meet and take pictures with one of his back-up singers extended family or complaining about having to put on an act for people before and after his shows, his negative actions seem well justified. Yes, Conan puts himself in a lot of these situations because he wants to give all of himself to his fans, but at times it seems his management has spread him a little too thin. He makes remarks several times during the documentary about how if he lost his voice then everyone on his team would be screwed. He then wonders allowed whether anyone in his management has even considered that as a possibility. But like I said, all of his frustrations and short fused comments seem well justified as the documentary proves to all of us fans Conan is only human.

For the vast majority of the movie, Conan turns any of his frustrations into humor. This is most apparent during his stent at Manchester, Tennessee’s popular and un-air conditioned Bonnaroo Music and Arts festival. He quips at one point that he has gone from hosting a successful late night talk show to performing at a refugee camp. The Bonnaroo organizers ask way more of him than what he thought he was signed on to do. During one of his more frustrated moments of the festival one of his staff members tells him that it will all be over soon; Conan retorts back with, “I know people keep saying that, but that’s what they said to Anne Frank.” Conan’s reply may seem tasteless, but it is nonetheless an example of how he attempts to turn any situation into something funny. He seems to be on his feet and ready for the next punch at every moment of the day, whether exhausted or not.

The documentary is filled with hilarious performances from his “Legally Prohibited from Being Funny on Television” tour and his off-stage antics, as well as, his incredible work ethic. Yes, at times Conan bitches and moans, but it just proves that this six-foot-five Irish ginger of comedic genius is an actual human being just like the rest of us. Going into the movie I thought it would be a much more gimmicky showcase of Conan lapping it up for the camera, but walking out of the theatre I felt as though I had gotten everything I wanted out of the documentary plus more. Conan O’Brien Can’t Stop is jam-packed with hilarity and will have you howling for most of its 90 minute running time, but it does little to hide Conan behind his stage persona. It is an honest and candid portrayal of a comic genius that shows us that we are all human.




A Pariah Prods. production.
Produced by Gavin Polone, Rachel Griffin.
Executive producer, Kathy Landsberg.
Directed & edited by Rodman Flender.
With: Conan O'Brien, Andy Richter, Steve Kroft, Eddie Vedder, Stephen Colbert, Jon Stewart, Jim Carrey, and Jack White.