The life and career of Chevy Chase, a prominent figure in the comedy world, come under scrutiny in a new documentary directed by Marina Zenovich. What the film really captures is Chase’s prodigious talent, focusing on his astonishing pratfalls and brilliant comic timing. It takes a deep look into the personal hardships he dealt with on the journey. The documentary features a stunning wealth of 50 years of archival footage. Most of all, it’s a fitting tribute to the groundbreaking spirit of the comedian whose catchphrases and comedy stylings shaped an entire generation.
Chase vaulted to stardom in 1975 as the first anchor of the Weekend Update segment on “Saturday Night Live.” His piercing intellect and iconic slogans both entertained and informed viewers while changing the face of television forever. Yet, as the documentary uncovers, often unbeknownst to the world, Chase suffered an abusive upbringing at the hands of his mother. This chaotic childhood played a key role in shaping his complex and often abrasive personality, as many would characterize him.
Through the difficulties of Chase’s earlier years, his family is still rallying around him. Jay, his children, and his current wife Jayni lavished him with affection and love in return. This vulnerability and intimacy makes for a more personal portrait of the comedian. On the set of documentary interviews for Zenovich, Chase showed open contempt for the filmmaker. Other than asserting, “I’m smarter than you,” he interrupted her with his own answers to her questions. This kind of shit is part of a bigger characterization that generally makes us sound pretty lame at best and totally aloof or geeky at worst.
The documentary dares to recount those controversial moments that defined Chase’s career. One prominent example is this widely criticized appearance from the 1970s when he used a racial slur to direct traffic at Richard Pryor. The controversy makes it harder to assess Chase’s complicated legacy. It stands in stark contrast to his comedic genius. Zenovich and her editor, David Tedeschi, masterfully cut the massive archive footage. To bring Chase’s story to life, they created an emotional story arc that effectively conveys the journey of ups and downs in Chase’s life.