Tolerable tele-pic about the (probably) somewhat forgotten sitcom of the late 70s, early 80s. The title is a bit of a misnomer as this mostly deals with Williams life, leaving co-star Pam Dawber virtually unseen. Right off the bat, I gotta say the guy playing Williams, Chris Diamantopoulos, is a virtuoso. A good example? He's so convincingly annoying as Williams can be at times! His talent with voices and kinetic energy is astounding. Unfortunately at times the film falls into schmaltz as most TV biographies do, such as the unseen, badly dubbed head of ABC. Or the dramatic "intro" of John Belushi who, because he's played by a look-a-like, we don't recognize as anybody! 1995's "The Late Shift", about the Jay Leno/David Letterman debacle handled that area much more deftly with the on-screen graphics of who each person was. Here, you have to be familiar with the story or wait for a corny announcing of a name. But, again, most of this is erased by Diamantopoulos' masterful performance. Which is why I was disappointed that it wasn't a straight Robin Williams bio, which could then delve into life after M&M and his second marriage. But Thanks to Diamantopoulos I have some new zingers to use on friends, such as a knock at his door, to which he replies, "Please take off your clothes and come in"; "A boyfriend? A wonderful alternative to m*sturbation!"; "Now we can reach that balding, over 40, boring, white male demographic". And Daniel Roebuck is becoming a pro at this, having now played Jay Leno, Don Bergman in the "Three's Company" story, and now Garry Marshall. The downside is that this isn't one of those "rush out and get it" movies because who knows when it'll air again. But if you get the chance, give it a try.
Behind the Camera: The Unauthorized Story of Mork & Mindy
(2005 TV Movie)
Robin from Ork...
5 April 2005