It’s not the smoothest or the slickest, but by virtue of its subject, it’s a documentary with a whole lot of heart.
What it's about
A look at the personal life and singular career of Gene Wilder, the icon behind iconic films like Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, The Producers, Blazing Saddles, and Stir Crazy.
The take
It’s immediately apparent that there are more carefully made documentaries out there than Remembering Gene Wilder. The film is riddled with pixelated photos for one, and the overall tone is fawning for another. But Wilder is too great of a man to be affected by mediocre filmmaking, and so Remembering Gene Wilder still makes for an entertaining and insightful watch despite its small faults. The film is less about his life and more about his work—a chronological account of his career with nuggets of wisdom for performers, comedians, and writers tucked neatly in between. It still dives into his personal life, to be sure, but as Wilder will readily admit, his creative decisions spell out all you need to know about him.
What stands out
Double bill this with Gilda Radner’s documentary, you cowards!