Judd Apatow and Michael Bonfoglio present the life and legacy of one of the greatest comedians of all time for HBO. This is George Carlin’s American Dream Part 2 Review. Firstly, this four-hour documentary gives us a deep dive into the late George Carlin. If you’re a fan of stand-up comedy and haven’t seen any of George Carlin’s routines. Please do yourself a favor and check out some of them on YouTube.
We’re talking about a man that influenced comedians like Jerry Seinfeld, Bill Burr, Paul Reiser, Jon Stewart, Joe Rogan, Steven Wright, and filmmakers like Kevin Smith and Ben Affleck. Moreover, Judd Apatow takes the time to put some of these people in this documentary to give their two cents on Carlin’s legacy. And that’s one of the things that make this documentary so damn good. In this article, I shall do a review for the second part. So, without further ado, let’s begin!
George Carlin’s American Dream Part 2 Review
The second part of this four-hour documentary covers the life of George Carlin from the 1980s up until the point of his death. So, let’s review it bit by bit. Firstly, the 1980s were a bit traumatic for George. He had a nasty cocaine habit, his marriage was in shambles, and his work wasn’t as good. People were kind of tired of his routines, up until the point that some comedians were lampooning his style.
George was down on his luck and trying to make ends meet that’s how Kelly, his daughter conveys it in this powerful leg of the documentary. But then, for George’s luck, something came along. It was the conservative movement of the 1980s, and with it, much material gave Carlin something to talk about. So, what did he do? He went on the road to do what he knew best.
Resurgence
You can often say that comedy specials about stand-up talents are often hagiographical in nature. But we’re talking about a man who not only stood up to adversity. Still, over the course of forty years, Carlin picked up every single aspect of modern life and adapted to his routines. And we see how Apatow grabbed Carlin’s personal notes and put them on display for us. Sometimes, it’s even hard to decipher his calligraphy. But what makes it more interesting is his imprint of routines like “the seven words you can’t say on television.” And his HBO specials paved the way for the current Netflix comedy specials we know today for stars like Ricky Gervais or Bill Burr.
We see how Carlin had a sitcom show, and it crashed dramatically, forcing him to go on the road again. Then, we see him coping with addiction problems once again. After that, Apatow explains to us his transition into the 1990s and how that conveyed yet another countercultural change for him. Moreover, the loss of his wife had a tremendous impact on him and his family. But George kept going. He found love again. He did movies and shows and kept on working.
George Carlin’s American Dream Trailer
Is This A Documentary Worth Watching?
If you read my last piece and this one, the answer is a definite yes because not only will it teach you a massive history lesson. It will give you a way to appreciate stand-up comedy for what it is. If you ever take a look at Carlin’s early routines, watch this show, then pivot to Seinfeld, Jon Stewart, or Bill Burr. You will notice the imprint. Carlin’s effect on comedy is undeniable. And Kudos to a man like Apatow for making such a good documentary like this that will give you a great time.
You will laugh, and you will cry. I rate it 10 out of 10. And with this, I conclude this post here at Otakukart. Thanks for your attention. If you liked my reviews, please come back for more. Share this with your friends. And as George Carlin used to say, “Laugh and enjoy the show.”
