Although it has been almost 20 years since the untimely passing of “SNL’ star and unbridled comedic force known as Chris Farley. Even two decades removed, his star shines as brightly as ever. ‘I Am Chris Farley’ is the first feature-length documentary film focusing on the life of the “infuriatingly talented” star (to quote the great Loren Michaels). The documentary, directed by Brent Hodge, is a powerful and moving tribute to a legend from the people who knew him best.
The film serves as a long overdue love letter friends and family, who offer a heartbreakingly close look at Farley’s rise from troublemaking youth to comedy superstar. It’s a love letter that focuses on the amazing talent of an artist, the impression her left on those he impacted in his short time on Earth and the demons he struggled with along the way. ‘I Am Chris Farley’ features raw, emotionally charged interviews with those who knew him best. The interviews range from Kevin Farley, David Spade, Dan Aykroyd, Bob Odenkirk, Bob Saget, Christina Applegate, Adam Sandler, Molly Shannon, Bo Derek, Mike Myers and many more. Those emotional moments are perfectly balanced with sidesplittingly hilarious moments they shared during their time together.
In addition to the emotional interviews, the film intertwines photo from the comedians childhood and never-before-released footage shows Farley doing his famous physical comedy. One of the most notable aspects of the film is the inside look at how some of Farley’s most famous characters came to life. This revealing look into Farley’s past shows he was much more than just “the funny fat guy,” but rather a complex artist who would go to any length to keep the laughter going. In short, this masterfully crafted documentary provides a unique glimpse inside the life of a star who was taken from us far too soon.
‘I Am Chris Farley’ will premiere on Spike on August 10th and be released on VOD and DVD on August 11th.
