Andy Kaufman: My Breakfast With Blassie

Andy Kaufman: My Breakfast With Blassie is a delightfully quirky and unconventional 1983 comedy directed by Linda Lautrec and Johnny Legend. The film features an intriguing juxtaposition of pop culture fandom and breakfast table chit-chat while blurring the lines between reality and performance art.

The main character of the movie, Andy Kaufman, who is famously known for his role as the lovable Latka Gravas on the popular television series Taxi, stars as himself. Alongside Kaufman is the legendary professional wrestler, manager, and WWE Hall of Famer, Fred Blassie, also cast as himself in the film. Laurie Burton, known for her roles in various TV series of the 70s and 80s, also features prominently in the movie.

My Breakfast With Blassie opens with Kaufman arriving at an average Los Angeles diner, named Sambo's, for breakfast. He comes to meet the legendary wrestling personality, Freddie Blassie. The two share a voracious appetite not just for breakfast fare, but also for stirring up their own version of chaotic banter and conversations, satirizing the iconic 'My Dinner With Andre'.

The genius of this film is the ambiguity of its premise. Are these scripted enactments or free-flowing dialogues? Does the breakfast truly consist only of meals and casual chit-chat, or does it serve as a microcosm of larger philosophical and societal discourses? The veil of deception and the intrigue of the humdrum captured in the movie make this film a must-watch for fans of Kaufman's eccentricity and kinetic humor, as well as for those intrigued by various wrestling personas of the time.

The film visits many topics, from personal hygiene to fan culture. Despite the casual setting, the discussions between Kaufman and Blassie are sprinkled with unexpected profundity, tickled by Kaufman's peculiar perspective on everyday matters. As the two share eggs and pancakes, they narrate stories from the glory days of their careers, delve into societal observations, and humorously engage with fans and detractors who happen to be there in the diner. The breakfast evolves into a platform of raw and uncensored dialogues, often punctuated by Blassie's unabashed cynicism and Kaufman's distinctive irony, drawing the audience into a unique, visceral experience.

The standout performance of the film is definitely Kaufman, who comes across as the perfect blend of eccentric, neurotic and childishly innocent, all delivered with his signature deadpan style of humor. He deftly bounces between one character and another – sometimes he’s the innocent and uninformed adult, and at others, a raving controversialist. His portrayal is both charming and engaging, brilliantly done to tease, bemuse, and at times, confuse the viewer.

Similarly, Blassie, at the twilight of his wrestling career, doesn't shy away from showcasing his brash, gregarious persona. His brusque humor and candidly unrestrained comments add an additional layer of humor and earnestness to the convoluted narrative. He effortlessly holds his own against Kaufman, making the breakfast an interpersonal spectacle of impromptu comedy to savor.

My Breakfast With Blassie intentionally departs from traditional storytelling norms, embodying the comedic genius and unconventional performance style of Kaufman himself. The film paints a vivid portrait of two very different personalities, united by a shared love for wrestling and a knack for controversy, even while they exist in the banality of a morning meal.

All in all, Andy Kaufman: My Breakfast With Blassie is a cult classic that has earned its place in the hearts of many fans. It is indeed a testament to the peculiar comic genius that Kaufman was, and an odd salute to a wrestling legend, making the viewing experience nothing less than an extraordinary encounter with the extraordinary wrapped in a veneer of the ordinary.