This biographical film chronicles Bruce’s life between 1951 and 1966. He married burlesque performer Honey Harlow in 1951, and they began performing together because Lenny didn't want her to work as a stripper. The movie explores their relationship alongside Lenny’s legal troubles related to obscenity laws, and his eventual decline, which is predictable. This downward trajectory brings to mind films like “Big Sur,” about Jack Kerouac, and "The Rose," inspired by Janis Joplin. It's worthwhile to watch simply for the trip back to the 1950s and 60s, plus to understand what all the fuss was about with this comedian (I’d never even heard of him before seeing it). Dustin Hoffman delivers an effective performance, while Valerie Perrine is a standout, especially for fans of Miss Teschmacher, particularly in the initial portion. Just be aware that the film contains mature content and carries an ‘R’ rating. The movie naturally brings up issues concerning freedom of speech in America, or the First Amendment. Imagine arresting Andrew Dice Clay for his language during performances in the late 80s and early 90s – it seems ridiculous. While I don't care for Clay, he demonstrated on VH1 Classics that he could be genuinely funny without relying on crude jokes and profanity. Those elements were part of his act, and if audiences didn’t appreciate them, they could simply leave or avoid seeing him. Applying this to Bruce’s performances in the early to mid-60s, it feels like a lot of fuss over nothing. It's ironic that the negative attention actually boosted his popularity, because he became unfunny later on, taking himself and his act too seriously. I appreciate how the film prompts thought about the morality of language. Ultimately, it boils down to common sense. A vulgar word might be acceptable among police officers at a station, but it’s not appropriate to shout the same word in a family restaurant or at a funeral. Context matters; a revealing swimsuit is suitable for the beach or hotel pool, but not in a classroom. It's just basic good judgment. You would have to be an unsophisticated person to fail to grasp this. If a particular word is likely to unnecessarily offend someone present, then don’t use it. It’s about showing consideration and respect for others in the community. But a comedy nightclub act operates under different rules; words are selected for entertainment purposes, whether to amuse or shock. Anyone who doesn't enjoy it can simply not attend. Problem solved. Again, it feels like a lot of nothing. The film has a running time of 1 hour and 51 minutes and was filmed in early 1974 in the Miami Beach/Fort Lauderdale area, as well as Brown’s Hotel in Loch Sheldrake, New York, and Brooklyn for a club scene. GRADE: B-

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