I Am Chris Farley

Critics Consensus

I Am Chris Farley lives up to its title by taking a poignant look at the life of the deceased star that should prove affecting and illuminating for novicers and longtime fans alike.

71%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 31

77%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 1,803

User image

I Am Chris Farley Photos

View All Photos

Movie Info

The film, from the directors of A Brony Tale, I Am Evel Knievel and the upcoming Johnny Cash - American Rebel, tells Chris Farley's story, from his early days in Madison, Wisconsin, and at Marquette University, through his work at the legendary club Second City to his rapid rise to the top of the comedy world on "Saturday Night Live" and in hit films like Tommy Boy and Black Sheep. Sharing insights into the beloved funnyman are such co-stars and colleagues as Christina Applegate, Tom Arnold, Dan Aykroyd, Bo Derek, Pat Finn, Jon Lovitz, Lorne Michaels, Jay Mohr, Mike Myers, Bob Odenkirk, Bob Saget, Adam Sandler, Will Sasso, Molly Shannon, David Spade, Brian Stack and Fred Wolf. The filmmakers also speak to Farley's four siblings, including his brother Kevin, a comedian and actor, and his brother Tom Jr., who wrote the biography "The Chris Farley Show: A Biography in Three Acts."

Watch it now

Cast

Chris Farley
Adam Sandler
Alec Baldwin
Christina Applegate
Mike Myers
Sarah Silverman
David Spade
Molly Shannon
Bob Saget
Jay Mohr
Jon Lovitz
Kevin Nealon
Dan Aykroyd
Bob Odenkirk
Bo Derek
Tom Arnold
Pat Finn
Lorne Michaels
Will Sasso
Brian Stack
Fred Wolf (II)
View All

News & Interviews for I Am Chris Farley

Hot Pursuit, Unfriended, and More Available on DVD This Week
Mission: Impossible Rogue Nation Is Certified Fresh
View All

Critic Reviews for I Am Chris Farley

All Critics (31) | Top Critics (12)

  • A bittersweet salute, appraisal and explanation of the early-nineties Saturday Night Live troupe mainstay.

    Aug 14, 2015 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…

    Brad Wheeler

    Globe and Mail
    Top Critic

  • It serves merely to remind us of lightning that struck briefly and memorably in the comedy world, and then was gone.

    Aug 13, 2015 | Rating: 3.5/5 | Full Review…

    Jim Slotek

    Toronto Sun
    Top Critic

  • Fans of Farley will appreciate the effort although more discriminating moviegoers might wish for a little less hagiography and a little more depth.

    Aug 13, 2015 | Rating: 2.5/4 | Full Review…

    Bruce DeMara

    Toronto Star
    Top Critic

  • I kept thinking what Farley would have thought of it. He probably would have been embarrassed and a bit shy about the whole thing. But he would have loved the attention. He would have smiled and laughed. And that's all that really matters.

    Jul 31, 2015 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…

    Brian Tallerico

    RogerEbert.com
    Top Critic

  • "I Am Chris Farley" sticks to slickly edited, bite-sized anecdotes about an attention-starved Midwestern goofball unprepared for stardom, accompanied by storybook music that accentuates Farley's childlike nature over his darker impulses.

    Jul 30, 2015 | Full Review…

    Robert Abele

    Los Angeles Times
    Top Critic

  • The story of dependence and excess is sadly familiar - and as with most of its material, "I Am Chris Farley" doesn't find a fresh way to tell it.

    Jul 30, 2015 | Full Review…

    Ben Kenigsberg

    New York Times
    Top Critic
View All Critic Reviews (31)

Audience Reviews for I Am Chris Farley

  • Aug 12, 2015
    Young people in the entertainment industry suffering from inner demons ultimately resulting in their untimely death is, unfortunately, nothing new. Chris Farley was one in a long line of funny people who have succumbed to the dark side of fame and the pressures of living up to the facade they create for the purposes of the public loving them. It is especially interesting in terms of comedians given they are the ones we expect to be of a certain, happy temperament in general, but obviously can't be funny all of the time. The most apt comparison is of course John Belushi who Farley naturally idolized, but also emulated in a way that Farley's need to find energy and inspiration in drugs so that he could deliver what was expected of him also served as his downfall. The new documentary, I Am Chris Farley, is not concentrated so much with the death of Farley though, but more on what life he was able to live prior to his death at the age of thirty-three. While there isn't anything necessarily unexpected about this trip down memory lane, it is certainly affecting and that is coming from a guy who didn't even grow up with the SNL cast that Farley was a part of. No, I was more of a second generation Farley fan, and this insightful look at what the late comedian needed in order to thrive is what makes this candid look at who the man really was really interesting. Beginning with interviews from his three brothers, the film builds a vivid portrait of Farley's pleasant childhood and encouraging upbringing. The film harps a lot on the influence of Farley's father, Thomas, but never touches on what came of that relationship once Chris became famous. As we build towards the years in which Farley became a huge star, the most riveting aspect is simply how self-loathing the man seemed to be and how this low self-esteem heavily influenced who he was on stage. While the interviews with the famous people can sometimes come off a little guarded and rightfully so, I Am Chris Farley never comes off as a fluff piece, but a fair portrait of who this man was while displaying he was to others what he always wanted to be to himself.
    Philip P Super Reviewer
See all Audience reviews

I Am Chris Farley Quotes

There are no approved quotes yet for this movie.

News & Features