Just when you thought all those Weiner jokes of a few years ago had finally petered out... They're coming back!!! Comedians around the country will be overjoyed to know that there will be new life in the Weiner jokes that practically write themselves with the upcoming release of Weiner the documentary.
Although most of us will relish the thought of yet more Weiner laughs, there are some who will definitely not be amused. Among them will be Hillary Clinton since this documentary, opening at the Sundance Film Festival this Sunday, could not be released at a worse time, just a week before the Iowa caucuses. The New York Times tries its best to report on the Weiner documentary with a straight face:
In May 2013, Huma Abedin and Anthony D. Weiner allowed filmmakers full access to his mayoral campaign with the hopes that the end result would document a spectacular political comeback, with Mr. Weiner being sworn in as mayor of New York having emerged from a scandal centered on explicit texting that forced him to resign from Congress.
Things did not go quite according to plan.
That's quite an understatement. And if don't believe me, just ask Carlos Danger.
Instead, Weiner, a new documentary that The New York Times was allowed to view exclusively ahead of its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on Sunday, provides an unfettered look at the implosion of Mr. Weiner’s mayoral campaign and a wrenching inside account of the couple’s interactions in the aftermath of his second explicit texting scandal.
The film overflows with juicy moments about Mr. Weiner. As the second scandal unfolds in July 2013, Mr. Weiner is shown panicking; misleading the news media; and, at one point, racing through the back halls of a McDonald’s to avoid a woman with whom he traded inappropriate texts, whom his campaign code-named “Pineapple.”
Yes, this definitely has all the making of a comedy hit. Perhaps it should be called "Pineapple Express." Oops! That comedy title has already been taken.
A movie bonus is that Weiner will give us a rather unflattering look at Hillary aide, Huma Abedin, who has until now come across in public as silently stoic:
When a young campaign staff member, on the verge of tears over the revelations, prepared to leave the couple’s Park Avenue apartment, Ms. Abedin offered some advice. “Just a quick optics thing?” she said to the woman. “I assume those photographers are still outside. So, you will look happy?” The staff member agreed.
...The contrast between Ms. Abedin’s public and private faces can be striking. One scene has the couple in a small office working the phones for campaign contributions. Ms. Abedin uses a sweet voice when she is asking for money. “How was the engagement?” she says on one call. “I want all the details!”
The film then cuts to her hanging up, showing a total change in demeanor. “His wife is going to max out, and he’ll try to raise another five,” she says flatly.
As for the obvious humor, don't worry. It will be chock full of Weiner jokes:
“Weiner” relies heavily on humor, incorporating extensive footage of late-night comedians mocking him, and has a 1970s glam-rock, funk and reggae soundtrack.
In fact I won't be a bit surprised if comedians rev up their Weiner jokes again on late night TV this very evening now that the word is out about the Weiner documentary. Perhaps Jamie Masada, owner of the Laugh Factory, will have to set aside a special Weiner night with free weiners for the customers to accommodate all those jokes about to hit the comedy scene again.
Although we will have to wait a bit for the Weiner documentary, perhaps you will be entertained by this clip of MSNBC's Lawrence O'Donnel grilling Weiner just before the New York mayoral election in 2013. Perhaps Weiner expected a friendly interview with the far left O'Donnell. Boy was he wrong.
Oh, your humble correspondent has noticed that there doesn't seem to be a movie poster for the Weiner documentary. Maybe the artistically talented among you can channel your inner Michaelangelo to create a Weiner poster. Post it here or, perhaps, on Twitter where the Weiner troubles began.
