Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond — Featuring a Very Special, Contractually Obligated Mention of Tony Clifton

Name: Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond — Featuring a Very Special, Contractually Obligated Mention of Tony Clifton
Genre: Documentary
Released: November 17, 2017
Duration: 94 min
Rating: 77
Cast: Andy Dick, Arsenio Hall, Carol Kane, Danny DeVito, Dotan Bonen

2017

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 16 Critic Reviews

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Universal acclaim based on 35 Ratings

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8.2	User Score Universal acclaim based on 35 Ratings

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Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond — Featuring a Very Special, Contractually Obligated Mention of Tony Clifton

Movie Details & Credits

Netflix | Release Date (Streaming): November 17, 2017 | TV-MA

Starring: Andy Dick, Arsenio Hall, Carol Kane, Danny DeVito, Dotan Bonen, Elton John, George Shapiro, Hugh M. Hefner, Jim Carrey, Judd Hirsch, Milos Forman, Paul Giamatti, Peter Bonerz, Randall Carver, Ron Meyer, Tony Danza

Summary: Jim Carrey earned critical acclaim and a Golden Globe for the performance, but many of the production’s most Kaufmanesque moments played out behind the scenes, thankfully captured on video by Andy’s former girlfriend, Lynne Margulies and former writing partner, Bob Zmuda. In Jim & Andy, Carrey looks back at the resulting footage 18 yearsJim Carrey earned critical acclaim and a Golden Globe for the performance, but many of the production’s most Kaufmanesque moments played out behind the scenes, thankfully captured on video by Andy’s former girlfriend, Lynne Margulies and former writing partner, Bob Zmuda. In Jim & Andy, Carrey looks back at the resulting footage 18 years later, reflecting on how he and Andy came up in oddly parallel universes, his experience channelling Andy and Tony and more broadly the spiritual journey of his career.… Expand

Director: Chris Smith

Genre(s): Documentary

Rating: TV-MA

Runtime: 94 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Manohla Dargis

Nov 16, 2017

The result isn’t another ho-hum documentary likeness in which all the elements neatly and often flatteringly stack up. “Jim & Andy” is instead a complexly layered and textured Cubist portrait, one that’s been constructed from fragments of its two title subjects and their work. Read full review

Lee Marshall

Oct 19, 2017

It makes for powerful and stimulating viewing whether or not a game is being played with viewers. Read full review

The Film Stage John Fink

Dec 13, 2017

[A] hilarious and occasionally moving portrait of Jim Carrey’s time making Milos Forman’s 1999 Andy Kaufman biopic Man on The Moon. Read full review

Darren Franich

Nov 16, 2017

Jim & Andy is fascinating, but it lands on a weird message: Thank goodness Andy Kaufman existed so Jim Carrey could play him in a movie. Read full review

David Edelstein

Nov 18, 2017

You come away from Jim & Andy wondering — not for the first time — about the cost to great artists of what they do, envious of their talent and thinking, “I’m glad that’s not me.” Read full review

RogerEbert.com Brian Tallerico

Nov 17, 2017

The blurring of that line between performer, reality, and fiction adds another layer to “Jim and Andy” that Kaufman would have adored. And Carrey likely does too. Read full review

John Bleasdale

Oct 19, 2017

As with Kaufman's own stunts, it's difficult to know what to take seriously. Read full review

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User Reviews

liamexe

Dec 6, 2022

This is a brilliant, stimulating, and in a sense desperate portrait of a (not so young anymore) artist who lost and, perhaps again, found themselves in the most impossible-to-us mortals situations of identity lost, disintegrated, and then miraculously found and reinvented again. Perhaps toThis is a brilliant, stimulating, and in a sense desperate portrait of a (not so young anymore) artist who lost and, perhaps again, found themselves in the most impossible-to-us mortals situations of identity lost, disintegrated, and then miraculously found and reinvented again. Perhaps to some, it won't be as profound as it appears (and wants, I guess). Jim Carrey is the best example of the "comedy man edition" after Peter Sellers and Jerry Lewis. He is quick to take on the role of another man, depressed enough to act as though his life depended on it (this is so similar to Sellers), otherworldly in his improvisation, and simultaneously terribly heartbreaking. If you consider yourself to be one of his biggest supporters.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Compi24

Nov 26, 2017

In director Chris Smith's "Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond," you're not only given a satisfying - if appropriately frustrating - look at the meta, mind-bending logic behind Jim Carrey's legendary performance as Andy Kaufman in Miloš Forman's "Man On The Moon," you're also delivered a suitableIn director Chris Smith's "Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond," you're not only given a satisfying - if appropriately frustrating - look at the meta, mind-bending logic behind Jim Carrey's legendary performance as Andy Kaufman in Miloš Forman's "Man On The Moon," you're also delivered a suitable look at the genius, ahead-of-its-time antics implemented throughout the aforementioned comedian's tragically short career, effectively giving the world its first look at what would later be dubbed as "performance art." It truly is one of those labyrinthine documentaries that will get you thinking, theorizing, and hypothesizing about the many philosophical, ethical, and psychological questions layered throughout, even if some of them may not ever be truly answered. In short, it is a fascinating doc indeed.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Ralfbergs

Jul 7, 2018

Interesting documentary that tells you about how Jim Carrey prepared for the role of his lifetime and how crazy it actually got and how dedicated he was for te role that he actually became Andy Kaufman himself.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

JLuis_001

Nov 25, 2017

Everyone knows about different acting methods and a lot of people knew about what Carrey did on the set of Man on the Moon but obviously we never saw it, but that's what this documentary is and although it's not spectacular or anything, it gives another look at the work of the actor and itEveryone knows about different acting methods and a lot of people knew about what Carrey did on the set of Man on the Moon but obviously we never saw it, but that's what this documentary is and although it's not spectacular or anything, it gives another look at the work of the actor and it becomes an excellent companion to the film and especially serves as a testament of one of Jim Carrey's best acting jobs.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

MattBrady99

Mar 19, 2020

One of the most irritating documentaries I’ve watched in awhile.

I love Jim Carry, but man does he come across as a pretentious and narcissistic douche bag in this documentary and the behind the scene clips of ‘Man on the Moon’. So up his own ass while trying to act deep andOne of the most irritating documentaries I’ve watched in awhile.

I love Jim Carry, but man does he come across as a pretentious and narcissistic douche bag in this documentary and the behind the scene clips of ‘Man on the Moon’. So up his own ass while trying to act deep and insightful…mostly about himself.

On the set of ‘Man on the Moon’, the looks on Danny Devito and Paul Giamatti faces during Jim's chaotic method acting were my personal highlights. Devito looks bewildered, and Giamatti looks like he’s questioning if acting was a mistake.

For those saying that Jim is doing what Andy did by getting a rise out of people in style of a performance art, well here’s the thing, I don’t think he understands Andy that well. He doesn't even play Andy Kaufman like Andy. He plays Andy like Jim Carrey. At least Kaufman knew how to be subtle and would never have been that rude to people, because a lot of co-stars and friends came on record to say that whenever Andy wasn’t in character, he was the most caring and gentle person out there. Jim seems to be more interested in the wild side of Kaufman and left out everything else.

So yeah, Jim’s “incarnation” was poorly portrayed.

Probably the most creepiest and tasteless part of the documentary is when he spoke with Andy's actual kid - and made it out like, 'this was the first time they had a real conversation with their father'. What’s even weirder is Andy’s parents also treated him like Andy, especially with the cancer treatment bit. So gross.

There’s even a part when Jim slips up when talking about a particularly scene they shoot where he says, “He got me upside- …..he got Andy upside down.” Basically saying “No wait, I am ANDY!!”.

Overall rating: It’s not a terrible documentary by any means as there were some entertaining parts, mostly from the crews reaction to Jim’s crazy antics. However, I will never watch this again. Just thinking about it makes me more and more angry.… Expand

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