Get Bruce (1999)

Get Bruce: Directed by Andrew J. Kuehn. With Whoopi Goldberg, Bette Midler, Robin Williams, Nathan Lane. A richly funny behind-the-scenes look at the art of creating comedy. When celebrities need a hilarious punch line, they get Bruce Vilanch, the comic writer behind Hollywood’s biggest events.

“I only saw this documentary because it was one of five films on a multi film disc that I got out of the bargain bin and this wasnu0026#39;t the film that I was going for. Bruce Vilanch is an openly gay comedian and writer. He writes for stars especially for the Oscar Awards ceremonies for hosts like Billy Crystal and Whoopi Goldberg. We meet his mother and learn he is adopted. He wears crazy t-shirts and has an ugly beard. I donu0026#39;t think heu0026#39;s a horrible person. He is far more open than most people were long before it was fashionable to come out of the closet. While the documentary has plenty of faults and flaws, itu0026#39;s enjoyable and sometimes just pointless to honor somebody like Bruce Vilanch. When you want a good comedy writer to help with the show like the Oscars, you get Bruce Vilanch to write some jokes. He has written performance pieces for Bette Midler and has been friends for decades with legendary performers. Itu0026#39;s interesting to see his past as writing for the Brady Bunch Variety Show in the 1970s after he left Chicago to get his start in Hollywood writing.”