I was lucky enough to recently catch a screening of Rodman Flender’s documentary Conan O’ Brien Can’t Stop. It was evident from the beginning that the title is definitely not an example of false advertising. Conan O’ Brien’s love for performing is defined by every scene, but more importantly you see a truthful and personal side of him that has been buried underneath the humor of his career. From his rigorous striving for perfection, to his frustration and exhaustion with the early happenings of his tour, to his almost unhealthy obsession with entertaining an audience, the funnyman can never be accused of slacking off creatively. He never stops to take a breather, even when performing back-stage where the only audience he has is his writing staff, friends, and family. The film also exposes the many other talents and loves of Mr. O’ Brien that even die-hard fans may not know exist.
What I enjoyed most about the documentary is how honest it is; it was very refreshing. Not only does it showcase Conan’s tour across America, but it also weaves many personal interviews with the funnyman in which he critiques his more discouraging qualities, shares concerns regarding his family life, and candidly talks about his anger involving his firing from The Tonight Show. These interviews not only act as a way of conquering his frustration, but they also give the viewer a deeper look into Conan as a person. To curb his anger, he channels that negative energy into a more positive venture. As a thank-you to his many fans that supported him through a tumultuous late-night controversy and subsequent firing, he begins work on a vivacious tour across America only two months after he was yanked off the air, aptly named “The Legally Prohibited from Being Funny on Television Tour.” The tour is therapeutic for him and allows him to expand creatively, using his frustration about the loss of his show to his advantage. The end result is an eclectic spectacle involving many passions of Mr. O’ Brien and featuring a multitude of jokes, dances, musical numbers, and many celebrity friends.
Much of the film is spent on the tour bus and back-stage where many familiar faces from his previous late-night shows are present (Andy Richter, Jack McBrayer, Jon Hamm, Jim Carrey), as well as many new faces that help him strictly behind-the-scenes. One such unfamiliar face is his personal assistant, Sona, who plays a significant role throughout the documentary and whose close relationship with Conan bubbles with mutual respect and friendship. Many of their shared moments are heart-warming and show a more personal side of Conan that’s rarely seen in his on-air antics. Oppositely, there are several scenes in which he has a mock-arrogance about him, nevertheless hinting that there is probably some truth behind some of his less-than-friendly behavior. He does it in such a playful manner, however, that his inner circle most likely knows that the things he says and does are in no way meant to be disrespectful or hurtful, but rather a way of expressing that they need to collectively work harder. I think the humor of it all could be lost on more casual fans or viewers unfamiliar with his style of comedy, who may mistakenly classify him as somewhat of a diva. However, there is plenty of footage displaying Conan’s self-criticism and his generosity to his fans that counteract the few instances that might sully his friendly reputation.
The film also shows the ups and downs of the comedy tour, from its unsure beginnings to its more evolved conclusion in Atlanta. I enjoyed the unbiased perspective Flender brought to it; scenes never feel illegitimate or catered towards boosting Conan’s ego like many celebrity documentaries often do. Everything is on display, including Conan’s exhaustion and frustration involving the tour, but this accentuates how much passion he has for performing and improving, especially when he is unsure about a particular bit not meeting expectations. And when something does work, he exhibits a childlike wonder that he describes as part of a Peter Pan complex, never wanting to grow up, doing this stuff forever. Indeed, his age plays a significant role, and he is often shown slumped on a backstage couch completely fatigued after many performances. Despite this, he still does an insane amount of meet-and-greets with anyone who comes backstage, sometimes to his own dismay. Then the next day arrives—sometimes with back-to-back shows—and it happens all over again. He puts forth the same strenuous effort every night, even organizing surprise shows on his days off, simply because he loves to make his fans smile.
At the screening I attended, there was a Q&A with Rodman Flender and Conan O’ Brien, which served as the perfect afterword to the film. Conan took many strange questions and fulfilled many requests his fans made, ranging from hugs, calling fan’s girlfriends, and allowing people to run their fingers through his famous red hair but at no point was there ever an indication that he didn’t want to be there—he actually went over the allotted time he was given much to the dismay of the theater owner—and the love for his fans is clear. He certainly didn’t have to show up to this screening, let alone for free, and I admired that about him. He also hinted that he would love to do another tour, which I found amazing considering the utter exhaustion on display following all of his shows, a testament to how much he loves to perform, even if it runs him ragged. But the most poignant segment of the Q&A was when he was answering one of the more serious and honest questions of the evening. “What do you want people to remember you for?” He responded that he hopes he’ll be remembered for doing the best with what he’s been given, and simply for being nice to people. I think the documentary reflects that statement as truthful, and I hope this desire of his never stops, allowing many more laugh-filled years to come.
