Joey Magidson
Ben Stiller loves his parents. That’s not a terribly shocking thing to say, nor is it a particularly compelling reason to make a documentary. However, given that his parents were Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara, that does make things a bit more interesting. So, Stiller & Meara: Nothing is Lost was born, not just as a tribute to them, but also as a way to introduce them to a whole new generation. Playing at the 63rd New York Film Festival, the doc is very entertaining and informative, as well as a loving portrait of complicated parents from a still grieving son.
Stiller & Meara: Nothing is Lost has a ton of really interesting archival footage, as well as plenty of Stiller himself, alongside his family. Your mileage may vary as to how much you care about the latter, but Stiller inserting some of his own neurosis into things does add a personal flourish to the proceedings. It’s not a perfect doc, but as much as any, it very much has its heart in the right place.
The documentary is a portrait of the legendary comedy duo Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara, as told by their son, Ben Stiller. We see their struggles and successes, not just in show business, but at home as well. We see how the lines between art and life were sometimes blurred, given that creativity and family often went hand and hand for them. Through it all, you can see not just how much Ben loves his parents, but also how much he respects what they’d accomplished.
In addition to depicting his parents and their history, Stiller also turns the camera on himself, alongside his family, to examine the influence that Jerry and Anne had on their lives. The lessons they’ve learned over the years will live on beyond not just their departed love ones, but also themselves. It’s actually quite touching.
Ben Stiller turns to the documentary format here, continuing to show how strong a director he is. Now, some will quibble with how much he’s on camera here, especially if they’re focused on the history of his parents. I didn’t mind Stiller exploring his own stuff here as well, but I know that it’s an element that could prove a bit divisive within Stiller & Meara: Nothing is Lost. Still, if the legendary comedy duo is at all interesting to you, Stiller will give you everything you could have wanted to learn about them.
Stiller & Meara: Nothing is Lost is one of the biggest hearted documentaries at NYFF this year. As long as Stiller’s own stuff on camera doesn’t annoy you, it’s hard not to leave this doc without having a full heart. Ben’s love for Jerry and Anne shines through in a way that you know would have made them incredibly proud.
SCORE: ★★★
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