Sickboy Syndrome: Five Great Comedians Who've Lost It
There's a scene in 1996's Trainspotting where Renton (Ewan McGregor) and Sickboy (Jonny Lee Miller) sit on a grassy knoll shooting BBs at a dog's rectum and discussing the slow decline in quality of the James Bond films. By way of explanation, Sickboy offers the following platitude:
Sick Boy: It's certainly a phenomenon in all walks of life.
Renton: What do you mean?
Sick Boy: Well, at one time, you've got it... and then you lose it... and it's gone forever. All walks of life: George Best, for example. Had it, lost it. Or David Bowie, or Lou Reed...
Renton: Some of his solo stuff's not bad.
Sick Boy: No, it's not bad, but it's not great either. And in your heart you kind of know that although it sounds all right, it's actually just... shite.
Renton: So who else?
Sick Boy: Charlie Nicholas, David Niven, Malcolm McLaren, Elvis Presley...
Renton: OK, OK, so what's the point you're trying to make?
Sick Boy: All I'm trying to do is help you understand that The Name of The Rose is merely a blip on an otherwise uninterrupted downward trajectory.
Renton: What about The Untouchables?
Sick Boy: I don't rate that at all.
Renton: Despite the Academy Award?
Sick Boy: That means fuck all. It's a sympathy vote.
Renton: Right. So we all get old and then we can't hack it anymore. Is that it?
Sick Boy: Yeah.
Renton: That's your theory?
Sick Boy: Yeah. Beautifully fucking illustrated.
Well, actually, it was more like "Sowae allgit old an' cannoe hackitaymoe," thanks to the pair's impenetrable Scottish brogues. And sure, the philosophy's been expressed elsewhere-probably by philosophers, I can't be bothered to check; and most definitely by Neil Young ("It's better to burn out than to fade away"). But I can't think of anyone who's put it as succinctly or as cruelly:
You get older. You can't hack it anymore.
In the pages that follow, we've put forward five comedians who, at one point in their otherwise stellar careers, started to age, as tends to happen. There was a time when their names were spoken in hushed, revered tones. Then, at some point, they became That Old Guy Who Voices The Groundhog in That Shitty Kid's Movie.
Tragically, it's doomed to happen to us all, at some point (getting older, not voicing cartoon groundhogs). Read on to find out when it happened to them.
Carey and Myers were never funny. They haven't lost it because they never had it. Even the writer of this article seems to agree. When the best you can say about someone is "as good as Chris Farley" and "made a film that wasn't as bad as you'd normally expect for SNL," we're not exactly talking top comedy talent.
Reply If that's all I can read in your article, that's all you're gonna read in my comment.
ReplyRobin Williams was awesome in Death to Smoochie. that was fairly recent. although i concede the 'overly manic' point
Replywas "good morning viet nam" supposed to be a comedy? his character never read as "funny" to me as much as driven to madness by the war and therefore tragic. while he really didn't make many good movies after that (i liked good will hunting), i thought patch adams was definitely a point from which there was no return.
ReplyI saw a commercial yesterday for the movie "Tower Heist". It has Eddie Murphy playing a street wise career criminal with a quick and witty sense of humour. No playing multiple characters. No quirky costumes or over the top characters. Maybe Mr Murphy is coming back to us...?
ReplyI know this is an old thread, but if you're reading this, know that Jim Carrey has become funny again. I Love You Phillip Morris is a hilarious movie.
ReplyHey now, Robin Williams has been in at least one great film... "What Dreams May Come". Its one of my favorites. and as a kid I adored Jumanji.
ReplyThere was never anything wrong with Jim Carrey. Personally I think Eternal Sunshine, Truman Show and Man on the Moon are some of his greatest films.
ReplyMost of this list is true, but I really enjoy Carrey as a dramatic actor. Comedy is harder than drama, so when a truly talented actor makes the transition, the result can be marvelous.
ReplyMe, Myself and Irene? ... C'mon that was atrocious
ReplyI really was naiively hoping Jim Carrey wouldn't appear on this list, but I knew he would be there as soon as I read the title. I disagree with 'The Majestic' and 'Bruce Almighty', but truly, his latest films have been a travesty.
Reply"Our generation's Jerry Lewis", reading this broke my heart, knowing this to be true, and making his ultimate decline all the more tear jerking. JC, please come back, we miss you.
These are pretty much dead on. I like how you even gave cred to some of the dramatic roles, but made sure to mention they aren't consistent. Even if you like where they are now, you can't argue that they haven't lost "it".
ReplyI also like where you suggested that Martin go the same route as murray. I could definitely see Martin in a Wes Anderson or Noah Baumbach film.
Really, nobody is trying to defend Eternal Sunshine of the spotless mind?
Reply Hide All See All 3 Repliesfuck, ignore that comment.
No, because he wasn't saying that it was bad. Or maybe he was. Idk, he was kind of contradicting himself.
well the article didn't say anything bad about and even gave it some small praise.
Unfortunately for Eddie Murphy, Norbit has proven that there is no salvation for him.
ReplyWow, this old article is so true. Ha, there'´s my sympathy vote.
ReplyToday we know that The Number 23 sucked monkey balls.
Why the hate for So I married an Axe Murderer? It was a great film!
ReplySO VERY TRUE! And Anthony LaPagila was adorable
Head! Paper! Now!
Daddy Day Care was actually good.
ReplyNever really thought that Dumb and Dumber was that good. When do we get a Fire Marshall Bill movie?
ReplyThis is a strikingly angry, acerbic article. Ease up, y'all.
ReplyThe Cable Guy was horrifyingly bad.
Reply