Shakes the Clown

1991’s “Shakes the Clown”, written and directed by Bobcat Goldthwait.

Starring Bobcat Goldthwait, Julie Brown, Tom Kenny, Blake Clark, Adam Sandler, Paul Dooley, Kathy Griffin, and Robin Williams.

In Andrew Dice Clay’s 1990 live comedy album, “The Day that Laughter Died”, Clay informs the crowd, “Tonight is not about comedy.” Goldthwait echoes this notion, in his black comedy, “Shakes”. Here, Goldthwait creates the fictional world of Palukaville, NY, where clowns (and clown tailors) form the majority of the population. Like any human based social setting, there are various classes of clowns: children’s party, rodeo, and even the lowly mimes. They all exist in a seedy world where they entertain people by day, and hang out at bars such as The Twisted Balloon, still in clown face and outfits. We meet Shakes (Goldthwait), who entertains children by day for his surrogate father’s clown company, and drinks all day and night. He and his buddies (Adam Sandler and Blake Clark) are enraged when the local children’s TV program hires their nemesis, Binky (an amazing Tom Kenny) instead of them. Binky and his minions aren’t satisfied with his television victory, as he lusts after Shakes’ bowler girlfriend, Judy (Julie Brown). They murder Shakes’ surrogate father, and frame it on some rodeo clowns that they traffic cocaine with. Shakes and his crew have to both get to the bottom of the frame job, and save Judy from Binky, all while fighting to address his alcoholism.

As anybody who is alive knows instinctively, along with generous assistance from Stephen King: clowns are not funny nor entertaining. They’re not here either. Degenerate, unpleasant, desperate; these are the protagonists Goldthwait presents us with. He creates a bizarre world, with deadpan bleak humour and throwaway characters scattered throughout. It’s a testament to the demented originality of Goldthwait that not a single joke told here is funny, while the stilted dialogue is often hilarious (“Wait a minute- you clowns are on dope!”). His Shakes character struggles to survive in a downbeat world, but takes a deep breath before going out and entertaining the kids- perhaps an attempt to satirize his experiences in the stand up world. “Shakes”’ box office results (ballpark of 1/10 of a million $) ensured Goldthwait wouldn’t direct another theatrical film until 2006, but it gained new life as a cult favourite on video and sets a baseline for the auteur who doesn’t seem happy unless making other people uncomfortable with his true to life satire. The commendable bizarro world setting and satirical vibe go far, but Goldthwait typically struggles to create fully fleshed out arcs, with hilariously strange premises, but a lack of realistic resolution. Still, in the spirit of clowning around, “Shakes” memorably breaks all the rules.

3.5/5

Trailer: Click Here.