The Dark R-Rated ’90s Comedy With Tons Of Stars You Need To Stream
Clowns are depicted in one of two ways in Hollywood. These performers are either funny, benevolent or otherwise harmless (The Bozo Show, The Greatest Show on Earth) or twisted monsters that hide behind their makeup and wigs (Terrifier, IT, Clownhouse). But comedian and actor Bobcat Goldthwait gave audiences a film about clowns in 1991 that fit neither of the above molds. Shakes the Clown portrays the entertainers in a different light entirely, in a film that combines layers of dark comedy with neo-noir that’s acted out by a stellar cast of characters.
Depressed Alcoholic Clowns
Shakes the Clown supposes that clowns and other performers live in an underworld where they communalize with one another after shows. The clowns in the film always wear their makeup, giving the presumption that their on-stage personas are a dominant part of their personalities. The film’s setting is in the fictitious town of Palukaville, where we find the film’s namesake drowning his sorrows and frustrations nightly in a bar called the Twisted Balloon.
Clown On The Run
Shakes has a severe alcohol problem that often interferes with his work as a birthday clown. Shakes has a glimmer of hope in his life when he believes he will be hired to host the television show Big Time Cartoon Circus but sinks worse into his alcoholism when he learns that he’s passed over for the part.
Shakes the Clown takes a violent turn when several rodeo clowns beat Shakes’ boss to death with a juggling club while in a cocaine-fueled rage. Framed for the murder, Shakes flees and goes into hiding. His only hope lies with a handful of fellow clowns who are convinced of his innocence and are dedicated to helping bring the real killers to justice.
Not Your Typical Clown Movie
As you can see, Shakes the Clown is far from the typical clown movie. Goldthwait also wrote and directed the film, which he later said was based on the cliquishness of comedians in the stand-up scene when he first began doing comedy. Though critics largely panned it, the film has generated a strong cult following over the last 30 years and is also heralded for the spotlight it cast on alcoholism and addiction in the entertainment industry.
Tons Of Stars Hidden Under All That Makeup
Shakes the Clown is packed with stars, some of whom were already in their prime and others who were at the beginning of their career arcs. Along with Goldthwait, you’ll see Adam Sandler, Tom Kenny, Paul Dooley, and Robin Williams in clown or mime makeup. Another recognizable co-star is The Brady Bunch’s Florence Henderson, and you’ll find a vulgar and drunk LaWanda Page seated at the Twisted Balloon as one of the regulars at the bar.
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REVIEW SCORE
It’s certainly an innovative film, loaded with cringy moments and insane rants by Goldthwait that help make it worthwhile. Shakes the Clown will certainly make you laugh, but you’ll also be equally entertained by how the real murderers are finally exposed.
Shakes the Clown gets 3.5/5.0 stars for its unique look at the entertainment industry and for casting some of the best names in comedy to support its mission.
Intrigued? You can stream Shakes the Clown for free with Pluto, the Roku Channel, or On Demand with Vudu, AppleTV, and Prime.
