‘Sometimes I’m so mad I can’t even breathe,” says the subject of “Conan O’Brien Can’t Stop,” with all the fury of a man whose sandwich arrived seven minutes later than expected.
We know O’Brien is funny. But if this bland documentary about his comedy tour after NBC gave him $45 million to go away is to be believed, O’Brien is the one comedian devoid of raging inner conflict. He only hates NBC, not anything interesting like himself or women.
It would come as a relief — a joy! — to learn that O’Brien does freaky things with trisexual hookers or drinks martinis made with children’s tears. Instead, according to this backstage film (made by a Harvard chum who gave Coco final cut), O’Brien:
* is humorous with his staff.
* eats grilled fish.
* plays guitar reasonably well.
* has difficulty getting his iChat to work when talking to his children.
* once asked his assistant to speak into a banana when addressing him.
* occasionally sips a glass of wine.
At his absolute grumpiest, O’Brien gets a little weary of the stream of backstage admirers before a show. And he uses the F-word a lot. But “Lenny” this is not. Still, it’s nice to know that the son of a lawyer and a microbiologist can get into Harvard and make something of himself.