Joey Magidson
I was raised on the movies of Mel Brooks, as well as his 2000 Year Old Man comedy albums. The soundtrack of laughter in my home and car as a child was Brooks. So, it goes without saying that I know the films, the comedy, and the stories of Brooks very well. As such, I didn’t find any great revelations within the new two part documentary Mel Brooks: The 99 Year Old Man. What I did find, however, was a wonderfully loving portrait of the man from Judd Apatow. HBO continues to knock these documentaries out of the part, after las year’s Billy Joel one (reviewed here). More please!
Mel Brooks: The 99 Year Old Man is going to resonate strongest with fans who know all of the bits and stories already, since they’re just really pleasurable to hear/see again. This isn’t to say that newcomers to Brooks won’t be delighted, as there’s tons of winning material here. It’s just all crafted by a Brooks fan for Brooks fans, exhaustive and inclusive as it is. Plus, with a new interview Apatow conducted with Brooks weaved throughout, there’s some emotional hindsight on display as well.
The documentary tells the story, in two parts, of Mel Brooks. From his early days making people laugh as a kid, to his service in the military during World War II, part one largely focuses on how Mel became the Mel Brooks we all know and love today. Part two picks up when he’s already become a successful director, though there’s stories throughout and clips that jump throughout his now well more than half a century old career. Apatow’s running conversation with Brooks especially helps give extra wight to some of the stories, including his love affair and marriage to the late Anne Bancroft.
Through it all, an A-list group of talking heads contributes their admiration, reverence, and stories about Brooks. Some of the best and now most emotional come from Carl Reiner and Rob Reiner, who we’ve now both lost. In addition, there’s the likes of Matthew Broderick, Nathan Lane, Adam Sandler, Ben Stiller, and many more, all who are clearly thrilled to give the man his flowers.
Mel Brooks still can tell a hell of a story, even at 99 years old. The archival footage obviously is a riot, but even now, when Apatow asks him any number of things, his mind is still clearly sharp as a tack. There’s a world in which Mel Brooks: The 99 Year Old Man ended up feeling depressing, had Brooks been a shell of his former self. Instead, not only does he look and sound great for 99, he puts men decades younger to shame.
Judd Apatow co-directs here with his prior documentary collaborator Michael Bonfiglio. They’re correct in keeping Brooks the star, giving him more screen time than any of the talking heads. They know not to hide him, even in his golden years. Mixed with the perfectly arranged footage of his bits, work, interviews, and more, it’s a fan’s guide to a legend that newcomers can still easily enjoy, without question.
Mel Brooks: The 99 Year Old Man absolutely delighted me. Anyone who loves Mel Brooks will get a real kick out of this documentary. You will obviously find far more serious docs throughout 2026. Will you find a more entertaining one? That remains to be seen, but even here in January, there’s a strong contender for that title. All hail Mel Brooks and all hail this film. It’s sure to put a smile on your face this week when the first part comes to HBO. Don’t miss it!
SCORE: ★★★1/2
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