An inspiring, triumphant and wickedly funny portrait of one of comedy’s most enigmatic and important figures, CALL ME LUCKY tells the story of Barry Crimmins, a beer-swilling, politically outspoken and whip-smart comic whose efforts in the 70s and 80s fostered the talents of the next generation of standup comedians. But beneath Crimmins’ gruff, hard-drinking, curmudgeonly persona lay an undercurrent of rage stemming from his long-suppressed and horrific abuse as a child – a rage that eventually found its way out of the comedy clubs and television shows and into the political arena.
If it accomplishes nothing else, the new documentary Call Me Lucky should bring some welcome attention to a man who's been under the radar for the past few decades, mostly by his own design.
– Mike D'Angelo,
AV Club,
6 Aug 2015
rotten:
As Goldthwait repeatedly returns to footage of a recent performance by Crimmins, in which he's introduced as a great entertainer, all we see are the aimless rants of a self-righteous blowhard.
– Alan Zilberman,
Washington Post,
6 Aug 2015
fresh:
An earnest homage that also honors Mr. Crimmins's crusade to drive child pornography off the Internet.
– Stephen Holden,
New York Times,
6 Aug 2015
fresh:
"Call Me Lucky" will be an especially grueling ride for those who can identify with Crimmins' trauma. Yet its toughness does not at all diminish its worth. It remains an essential viewing experience.
– Odie Henderson,
RogerEbert.com,
7 Aug 2015
fresh:
"Call Me Lucky" lives up to the irony and accuracy of its title ...