Andy Kaufman never liked to be called a comedian. He described himself as a song and dance man. One could say a vaudevillian. With that in mind, it's not-so-bizarre his decision to transform himself into a pro-wrestler for a time. And Kaufman never did anything half hearted.
This documentary uses rare archival footage to highlight Kaufman's career as a wrestler. The production was edited by Kaufman's girlfriend Lynne Margulies using home video and vintage interviews. In one interview, Kaufman says that if he's going to take on a character he's going to go commit himself his entire life to it. That explains why so many people didn't know if it was a joke or for real. As a wrestler, he crafted himself as a chauvinistic Hollywood elite who challenged any woman in America to wrestle him. As the film shows (over and over again), Kaufman's shtick was that women don't have the mental capacity for wrestling, only housework. His favorite dig was that women are better than men at scrubbing potatoes.
In all honesty, calling this a documentary is a bit far-fetched. It's really a highlight reel of footage from Kaufman's career. Kaufman would wrestle women anywhere — bars, comedy clubs and even an airplane. Even for a fan of Kaufman, as I am, the endless wrestling match after match does get tedious after awhile. The film doesn't even have a credited director with Margulies serving as producer and editor. The repetitive punk soundtrack doesn't help the tedium either.
However, the film has its moments, which usually come during the interviews. Kaufman's comedic accomplice, Bob Zmuda, who went on to create Comedy Relief, tells a great story about Kaufman holed up in his house watching old female wrestling films. This exercise in sideshow entertainment was a turn on for Kaufman. What does it say about his psychology that he lured women in with insults so they would roll around on the floor with him. Then again that kind of irony is part of Kaufman's genius. He made a career fulfilling every whim.
I really wish the film delved more into Kaufman's reasons and inspirations for becoming a wrestler. Additionally, I liked seeing some of his classic wrestling taunt segments too. There is a great one where he "knocks out" a woman by his pool in Hollywood. Zmuda runs in scared that Kaufman has really hurt the woman. Kaufman's response, "Doesn't matter. She's poor. She can't sue me." More of those elements would have made the film a lot more fun.
In the end, this film is a passing curiosity for Andy Kaufman and die-hard wrestling fans only. Uninterested viewers will probably find it boring. For me, Kaufman's bizarre genius still shines through and for those moments, while fleeting, made the experience enjoyable.
Buy "Andy Kaufman World Inter-Gender Wrestling Champion" Here!
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
