Owen

Mel Minus Joy

Revisado: 12-20-19

While in theory bound by the facts of an individual's life, a biographer enjoys discretion in how or even whether these facts are presented. The choices of which facts to emphasize and the context in which to present them can skew perception of the subject or even strongarm the audience into conforming with the author's perception, In this way an author can tacitly turn a biography into an op-ed.

In "Funny Man," a title I guess used ironically in reference to the man himself, the listener is force fed like foie gras the many flaws of Mel Brooks. Infidelity! Deceit! Litigation! Oh My! We stew in it ad nauseam, and it bastes our vision. Brooks' professional triumphs and cultural legacy are soured and minimized by the constant focus on his awfulness.

It's Mel minus joy, and objective it ain't. It's hard to escape the feeling that the author just doesn't really care for Mel Brooks. As a big fan of his work, I can stomach the truth of his disputes and foibles, but not at the expense of diving into what his work means to people and how much happiness he has brought into the world. I wasn't hoping for a hagiography, but I also wasn't hoping for the National Enquirer.

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