NMR: Conan O'Brien Can't Stop

So lo and behold after I just got done saying I probably wouldn't be doing anymore Netflix reviews since I switched to their streaming only package, they go ahead and add a new movie that I wanted to see to their Instant View catalog. The fact that I'm doing this review is probably the most positive thing that's happened to Netflix this week. Anyways, this is the documentary that chronicles Conan's concert tour that he put on during the time between when he was kicked off of The Tonight Show and before he got his current show on TBS. Near the end of the film, Conan remarks that what we're seeing is him in his rawest form and that's pretty accurate. By filming him at the lowest point of his career, we see all the reasons there was such a groundswell of support for him and we also see some of the reasons why his run on NBC ultimately turned into a failure. As a human being, Conan's incessant need to be 'on' often comes out in forms that are hurtful and humiliating to those around him. We see him frequently physically and verbally attacking his friends and staff. It can be a bit shocking, but you also sense that anyone that knows him, like his friends and staff would, know that this just comes with the territory. But we also see how that approach manifests itself into an unyielding effort to please all of his fans. The film goes to great lengths to show how Conan never refuses to meet and interact with the people that consist of 'Team Coco'. His devotion to his fans is impressive, but it's also frustrating as it relates to his comedic efforts of late. Both the content of the shows he did on this tour, as well as what he's doing on his new show seem to be self-indulgent and over-produced. None of it really seems to be for the fans or a natural offshoot of what they would enjoy. At times all of it feels as if we're now just the audience for one big therapy session to help him get through the fact that NBC dumped him. As a documentary, it's an interesting look into this particular time in his life, but also could have been better served by adding some additional commentary from outsider perspectives. Flaws aside, this is definitely worth a look for any Conan fans out there. Rating: ****