“I’m a rat, and you’re a human being, and Gonzo is a whatever… we’re still family” - Rizzo the Rat
We are all on quests of our own, looking for something. For some, it's the fame and fortune they think they deserve; for others, it's things that start with the letter Y. Despite the difference in runtime, allowing for two viewings of Letter Quest with a 17 minute break in the middle, these movies feel like they were made to be seen together. The other parts of the Letter quest anthology also align with King of Comedy's plot, again displaying a type of anti-hero's journey. A quest for the undeserved. An ego-driven assault on innocent bystanders unaware of their involvement in the protagonist's delusions.
This star-studded cast featuring Robert DEnoro, Neil Patrick Harris, Jerry Lewis, and Sandra Oh is hard to beat, all with an equal grasp on humor and tragedy - each excelling in their own sincere performances, regardless of tone. The masterful performances don't stop in front of the camera, however. With the combined writing credits of legendary Sesame Street writers Judy Freudberg (co-writer of Follow That Bird, head writer and co-creator of Elmo's World) and Molly Boylan (Sesame Street lyricist since 1989, 5 time Emmy nominated), as well as a relative writing newbie at the time, Paul D. Zimmerman.
What can be learned from correlating these two films? Glitzy aspirations get you nowhere. Delusions of grandeur will become overpowering before eventually crashing down. Similarities and differences make friendships special. There aren't any new opinions to be shared on the works of Martin Scorsese or the Sesame Street crew after all this time, but both of these movies are undeniably five baggers and when paired together, earn a couple of boxes of Yoohoo