Thank You Very Much asks a very simple question: Who is the real Andy Kaufman? The answer, however, is not as straightforward. With his controversial and gonzo style of comedy, Andy Kaufman was a provocateur. An iconoclast. He found pleasure in confusing and outraging audiences. Some people loved him for this while others found it incredibly annoying. He may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but there’s no denying that the tea was on a meteoric rise to fame. From the filmmakers behind Uncut Gems (Elara) and Won’t You Be My Neighbor (Tremolo Productions), Thank You Very Much is a long overdue exploration into the all-too-short life of a one-of-a-kind comedic genius.

An Enigmatic Legend

Filmmaker Alex Braverman sorts through never-before-seen archival footage and speaks with some of Kaufman’s closest friends, colleagues, and family members to craft a portrait of the curious Andy Kaufman. The consensus among the group is that Kaufman is an artist in the truest sense of the word. His artform is his act, his “always-on” persona that had everyone questioning the lines between reality and fantasy. Was he really an awkward guy with a high-pitched foreign accent? Or was he more like Tony Clifton, a rare steak-eating, womanizing drunkard? Through interviews, we learn that no one was ever 100% sure who the real Andy Kaufman was.

Watch the Thank You Very Much trailer here.

But there’s a downside to being a full-time jokester… no one knows when you’re telling the truth. Andy Kaufman was diagnosed with and later died from lung cancer at 35 years old. And still, people thought he was faking his death. Danny Devito admitted to not believing it, thinking it was just another one of Kaufman’s outlandish pranks. Some people even poked his coffin to make sure he wasn’t messing around. In death, as in life, Andy Kaufman kept everyone on their toes. I’m sure he would have been thrilled to know that this is the legacy he leaves behind.

Unearthing the Public Persona

Thank You Very Much brings to life an engaging timeline from Kaufman’s early days, starting at NYC’s The Improvisation in 1963. From here, we see tons of archival footage from his standup sets, all still hilarious and relevant today. Braverman makes it a point to also infuse the darker moments of Kaufman’s life, including homelessness, addiction, and a traumatic childhood event about his family’s decision to cover up the death of his grandfather. He overcame a lot of adversity in his short life, thanks in part to his belief and practice of Transcendental Meditation. The film goes into more detail on how exactly this form of meditation literally saved his life.

A Quote From Director Alex Braverman

“The greatest joy of making a documentary about Andy Kaufman is that he is impossible to define. The musicality of his act, his shapeshifting, and wild tonal experimentation gave us a thrilling, enigmatic performer whose influence can still be felt across our entertainment, art, even politics. But for me, his most indelible legacy is that he wasn’t afraid to be the fullest, most beguiling version of himself no matter how others responded to it. That’s his genius.”

Takeaway

If Andy Kaufman were alive today, would he have liked his private life examined so publicly? Would he revel in the fact that some people still believe that he is alive and his death is just some elaborate hoax? While Thank You Very Much does an excellent job of reminding audiences of the once-in-a-generation talent that was Andy Kaufman, the real truth is we may never fully understand him. One thing seems clear though: he couldn’t have written his legacy any better.