Andy Kaufman Inspires the Marvel Cinematic Universe

There's a movie from way back in the old black and white days in the 1990's called Man On The Moon.

It's not about Neil Armstrong, that is more recent and called First Man. This one is about Andy Kaufman and stars Jim Carrey as the performer who pushed boundaries.

So what is there to say about this film? Well, it is directed by Milos Forman, who also made Amadeus (about another talent who was ahead of his time), and also stars the cast of 80's sitcom Taxi. It has been chronicled by Jim Carrey in his Netflix film Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond that he went a little crazy, channeling the spirit of Mr Kaufman and acting out in all sorts of strange ways, much to the distaste of cast members and the director. 

Or is that part of the gag? Because when it comes to the career of Andy Kaufman you just don't know what is true and what is being played out for your entertainment.

He was not a comic, comedian or the like. He was an artist who wanted his audience to feel something extreme. With his stand-up he wanted it to feel uncomfortable as well as funny; for his wrestling he wanted to be hated passionately. At his shows, and the Carnegie Hall show is a real big-time circus, he wanted to audience to be entirely invested in the joy of life. 

It was not all about laughs, it was about emotions and the power of them. If you were to laugh he wanted you to really laugh; equally, if you were to cry he would really want you to bawl. That is the power that a performer has.

So to think about that now, the only real equivalent at the moment in the world of popular entertainment is the most recent Marvel movie. In Endgame, (there are no spoilers here), the audience have become so invested in each character over a ten year journey that when something great happens it makes you very happy; and when something sad happens it tugs at those heart strings.

That is the power of story, the power of investment, and the power of the great art of creating and sharing worlds. 

If I were a comedian, or, as I am, a plain old performer experimenting with ideas, I would look at Andy Kaufman and what he wanted to bring.

Life is a rollercoaster (as once sung) and we all experience extremes of highs and lows; we all go through awkward moments as well as times of fun or reflection. Andy's performances were all of that wrapped into an enigmatic bubble that executives of the time did not know what to do with. 

Marvel have captured some of that magic; others are yet to move on.

Man On The Moon trailer from IMDB