Oct 21

Oct 21 AFI FEST film review: 'Belushi'

From his childhood spent honing impersonations to his reckless stardom, the biographical documentary 'Belushi' (screening during AFI FEST 2020 and premieres on Showtime on Nov. 22) recounts the comedic icon's legacy and tragic fall.

In short: The life and career of breakout 'Saturday Night Live' star John Belushi, told through previously unheard interviews from his friends and collaborators recorded shortly after his Belushi's death.

In 2020, John Belushi has been dead longer than he was alive. His infamous death by overdose in 1982 has been a cautionary tale of a man whose talent was only eclipsed by his self-destructive inclinations. John Belushi is synonymous with tragic flameout and its easy to forget that Belushi was only nationally famous for 7 brief years. Despite how absolutely famous Belushi was at the peak of his career, time has made the specifics of his comedic legacy and downward spiral could have easily faded into oblivion.

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A lot of these biographical documentaries are filled with candid interviews from all ton of the subject's famous friends - but 'Belushi' completes the portrait of the troubled comedian by filling in the gaps of his life with interviews with his friends, family and peers. His high school music teacher and childhood friends offer intimate details that would also be otherwise be lost to time. That said, hearing Harold Ramis, Penny Marshall and Carrie Fisher describe their time with Belushi is bittersweet and adds authenticity to 'Belushi.'

Filmmaker R.J. Cutler's documentary marries archival photos, audio, footage and animation to compose a direct account of Belushi's life on and off screen. Fellow 'SNL' alum Bill Hader reads Belushi's letters, giving a voice to the deceased star. Stylized animation brings audio moments to life - especially helpful to depict his childhood, living with his loving grandmother and his overbearing father.

The only thing that prevents 'Belushi' from reaching the top tier of 2020 films is, well, it's a biographical documentary laser focused on the subject. There's little to no effort made to establish or touch on universal themes - the elements that elevate good documentaries to great documentaries. 'Belushi' is happy to lionize the comedian as a once-in-a-generation talent with some inner demons - and that's about it. Like 'I Am Chris Farley' and 'Love, Gilda,' this documentary is a solid encapsulation of a comedian's all-too-short life that will mostly appeal to comedy fans.

Final verdict: 'Belushi' is an overdue eulogy that celebrates the tragic 'SNL' star.