Film Review: Obsessive, Intriguing ‘Conan O’Brien Can’t Stop’

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CHICAGO – It’s the movie poster that says it all. The familiar red-headed talk show host, now bearded, resting his head against an ever-present microphone. The show must go on for “Conan O’Brien Can’t Stop.”

Rating: 3.5/5.0

What is interesting about this backstage documentary and performance film is that it’s part two of a two part story. This is O’Brien after part one, after he left NBC’s “The Tonight Show” (for those under a rock, O’Brien quit the The Tonight Show hosting gig rather than alter the format to accommodate NBC’s need to get Jay Leno back to the time slot. Leno returned to The Tonight Show). Part two is his salvation. Banned contractually from television for six months, O’Brien mounts a traveling show where he does his schtick, plays his guitar and feeds his obsessive need for feeding an audience.

The documentary and performance film follows all the steps in the process to produce the show, then goes on the road with O’Brien, sidekick Andy Richter and members of his old Tonight Show band, most familiar being Richie ‘La Bamba’ Rosenberg. Along the way O’Brien exposes himself as both a temperamental diva-like child and a dedicated artist who appreciates his sense of give-and-take associated with making show, interacting with his fans accordingly and lovingly.

As city after city clicks off, O’Brien is shown backstage, maniacally preparing for each grueling night along the way. He complains, schmoozes, greets celebrity friends and looks perpetually tired. But the idea is that he wouldn’t have it any other way. He simply “can’t stop.”

Continue reading for Patrick McDonald’s full review of “Conan O’Brien Can’t Stop”

’Conan O’Brien Can’t Stop’ Exposes Both Sides of One Man Photo credit: Abamorama

Continue reading for Patrick McDonald’s full review of “Conan O’Brien Can’t Stop”