I Am Chris Farely

Recorded this on the DVR and finally watched it yesterday. Farley was the best! Brought back so many memories.
 
Sorry, but I've never heard of him this side of the water, and to be honest, those clips are the 'best'? Really? Based on what I'm reading, I can only assume this is just one of those comedy things that doesn't work internationally. Of course, I have never watched a complete episode of Friends either - that is equally annoying.
 
For Paul. . .

He was a star on Saturday Night Live in the 90s, one of the "rock stars" of the show, later moved on to movies, died of complications related to drug use. He was pretty well-known and loved here in the US.

Let us not forget his Chippendale's audition against Patrick Swayze.
 
He was pretty awesome, I was just showing my kids his
'Matt Foley motivational speaker' skits last night.
As funny as he was alone, it went to a different level when
he was with David Spade. Those guys just played off
each other so well. I can't think of one of
them without the other.
 
matt foley was a good bit. my fave of those is the one where david spade plays a kid who wants to be a writer. foley says something to the kid's dad, referring to the kid, along the lines of "I don't have my glasses on, but is that ol' Bill Shakespeare?"
 
Josh Bass said:
matt foley was a good bit. my fave of those is the one where david spade plays a kid who wants to be a writer. foley says something to the kid's dad, referring to the kid, along the lines of "I don't have my glasses on, but is that ol' Bill Shakespeare?"
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Yeah that is the original/first Matt Foley skit....and when the dad objects
to him making fun of his son that way by saying:
'we actually encourage his writing' is when Farley unleashes his
'Well dad it sound like you need to shut your pie hole!' bit.

I recently watched a behind the scenes from David Spade saying
that the first time they did that skit, they ran through it and rehearsed
a few times. Then, when they did it live, for the first time ever,
Farley did that thing where he grabs the front and back of his pants and
hitches up the crotch over and over.......which he never did once in rehearsal.
According to Spade, Farley waited to do it when they were
live because he knew it would make Spade lose it and start laughing
instead of staying in character. Spade then played the skit back and
pointed out all the times he was covering his mouth with his hand, trying
not to laugh for real. If you watch that skit again and look at Spade the
whole time, you can see, he is just about losing it and busting out howling.
It's pretty funny.
 
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paulears said:
Sorry, but I've never heard of him this side of the water, and to be honest, those clips are the 'best'? Really? Based on what I'm reading, I can only assume this is just one of those comedy things that doesn't work internationally. Of course, I have never watched a complete episode of Friends either - that is equally annoying.
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Ha ha. Yeah 'Friends' is pretty annoying... At first I didn't get Farley, either, but if you watch his SNL skits a few times you realize that he is a very talented comedian -- especially at physical comedy. For a big man he was extremely athletic (and reckless) with the pratfalls he took. He also had an incredible amount of energy and stamina, as well as a great ability to improv. IMO stay away from his films and stick to his SNL skits: https://screen.yahoo.com/chris-farley-show-martin-scorsese-000000739.html The Martin Scorsese one, "Down by the River" and "Gap Girls" are my favorite...
 
paulears said:
Sorry, but I've never heard of him this side of the water, and to be honest, those clips are the 'best'? Really? Based on what I'm reading, I can only assume this is just one of those comedy things that doesn't work internationally. Of course, I have never watched a complete episode of Friends either - that is equally annoying.
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I think there is something to this. I've never thought a lot of the UK comedy I saw was very funny....I think
some stuff is universal but some stuff is definitely cultural.
 
look man, youre all Friends-deniers NOW, but back in 1997 you were all way into it. dont lie. liars.

re: Spade breaking on cam: i find watching pros lose it is often nearly as funny as the material itself. dont know why.

yeah, SNL skits over films. except i liked his minor role in Dirty Work, the terrible/awesome norm macdonald vehicle.
 
"look man, youre all Friends-deniers NOW, but back in 1997 you were all way into it. dont lie. liars." My girlfriend makes me watch the re-runs ;)
 
paulears said:
Sorry, but I've never heard of him this side of the water, and to be honest, those clips are the 'best'? Really? Based on what I'm reading, I can only assume this is just one of those comedy things that doesn't work internationally. Of course, I have never watched a complete episode of Friends either - that is equally annoying.
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He was like Mr. Bean but in a funnier, American way.
 
I really didn't appreciate Chris Farley for a long time. I also didn't enjoy a lot of folks from that era of SNL (except for say Phil Hartman).

Bottom line, Chris Farley was ****ing hilarious and the documentary was well done. Anyone who liked the guy -- or who likes low-brow, absurdist, ridiculous, comedy -- should watch it. By all accounts he was a compassionate, genuinely loving person to those around him. It's a real shame he destroyed himself, and faced such intense self-hatred and depression.

I really enjoyed Dan Akroyd's commentary. Anyone who grew up loving that classic era of SNL couldn't help tear up also thinking about John Belushi (even though that parallel was made only once in the doc (?)). Hard drug use has taken such a toll on the artists in this world, and maintains such a powerful cultural presence (look at the renewed heroin epidemic in the US). Sucks.
 
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