Review of American: The Bill Hicks Story (2010) by Randy M — 04 Jul 2011

Excellent documentary. I would consider Bill Hicks probably right at the top of my list of favorite comedians of all time, along with George Carlin, I'd say that Bill slightly edges out Carlin. Anyway, this was a really great documentary, told from the people who knew him best.

That really helps in knowing a side that all of us didn't even know. But as the movie was told by his family and friends, there's no real way for you to know how ahead of his time he really was and how influential he is to comedy.

They do show one of those 'where are they now' at the end and they do say that Bill is consistently voted as one of the best comedians of all time. And the thing is, in my opinion, Bill is still ahead of his time.

While some comedians do an intellectual stand up and tackle issues that make you think, none of them do it with the passion that Bill did, and that's what sets him apart. For example, Dane Cook will never be as great as Bill, no matter how many times Dane sells MSG out.

He just feels fake, and Bill was anything but. He was unpredictable, he was intelligent, he was loud, he was crass, he was goofy...but through it all, he still was completely unique and no matter how much you try, you'll never be able to recreate a Bill Hicks stand up as he was just a one of a kind individual, a wonderful stand up comedian, and he's sorely missed.

Anyway this documentary is highly recommended, even if you're not a fan. It's a fascinating look at a very complex man.