DON’T EXPECT ASPERGER’S JOKES
Asperger’s Are Us
Review by Ray Schillaci
There is something so unique and special about director Alex Lehmann’s highly entertaining documentary, Asperger’s Are Us, one can easily see why the Duplass Brothers (Cyrus, The Puffy Chair) came on as executive producers. Even though a documentary, Asperger’s Are Us contains their brand of off-centered humor with a dash of warmth – the story of four young individuals with a form of Autism, Aspergers, that create a comedy troupe, and not only are they funny, but inspirational as well.
Director Lehmann, who was also the editor, must have had a field day putting this into one cohesive story. At first, the whole affair almost makes no sense, and neither do the young men as well. This is a wonderful sleight of hand on Lehmann’s and the troupe’s part, taking us so deep into their world that we almost feel off-kilter. But as the film slowly reveals each personality, we come to embrace New Michael, Noah, Ethan and Jack. It’s revealed that they had been performing as a troupe for two years, and met in a summer camp for kids with Asperger’s where they bonded through their own unique brand of humor.
For those uninformed, according to autismspeaks.org, Asperger’s syndrome is generally considered to be on the “high functioning” scale of Autism. Children and adults have a difficult time with social interaction and display a restricted range of interests and/or repetitive behaviors. Also, their motor functions can be delayed causing them to be clumsy or have uncoordinated motor movements.
Lehmann has us as the fly on the wall as these young men prepare for their last show before they go their separate ways. All the preparation, angst, and problems that go with putting on a show is multiplied by their situation, but that does not make us feel sorry for them. In fact, they have us laughing, reflecting, and frustrated with them when they have problems with their own road blocks. We also get a wonderful glimpse into their personal life: supportive parents and friends that make a difference in their life. The love just emanates from the screen and you can’t help but get teary-eyed now and then.
The most fascinating part of it all is how reflective they are. New Michael is very open about the anger issues he once had, and how he does try to control his outbursts. He struggles with this being the last show, and prefers the program to be filled with fresh material while the others would rather fall back on reliable sketches. It soon becomes a conflict as the days go by.
Noah, who is the oldest of the group, and mostly the leader (New Michael would argue that), appears to be the glue that holds them altogether. You can see how he cherishes the bond the four of them have developed over the years, and realizes how very special it is. His reflections on his past, and his anecdotes on the rest of his friends, himself and society itself are insightful and very entertaining. Also, a big plus are the various songs he provides to the wonderfully oddball soundtrack.
Ethan has a delightful dry and droll wit. He rolls with the punches no matter how many times he may get hit (figuratively). We get from him that no matter what, it will all work out in the end, and he even goes as far as breaking that fourth wall and giving the audience a little more insight into his friends with a sly wink.
Jack is a dead ringer for a young Jesse Eisenberg. In fact, one would almost think he was doing an imitation of the actor, but perhaps it’s been Eisenberg all this time doing an imitation of someone on the Autism spectrum. It’s just uncanny watching Jack to keep being reminded of the actor. He’s very analytical, almost to the point of being cold. He displays this most with his family, preferring not to show affection to his brother or father. He bears them no ill will, he’s just uncomfortable with any emotion, but he appears to have a warmer side when he is with the troupe. Not that he’s affectionate, perhaps just more open.
Lehmann takes us through vignettes of preparation – deciding on sketches, writing new ones, and rehearsals, and throughout we end up cheering them on while getting a much better understanding of Asperger’s. We also find how incredibly functional these young men are, and what the future holds for them, which ends up being a big payoff in the end.
Too often the documentary genre gets a bad rap. It’s either labeled as a dry learning tool or thought as a Michael Moore-like vehicle filled with sarcasm with political referendums. Alex Lehmann, cast and crew take this documentary to an uplifting level while delivering a slice of life that makes us laugh, learn, and love what we have just seen. Asperger’s Are Us is a joyful learning tool that entertains in a very uncommon way – and we’re all the better for it!
Directed by: Alex Lehmann
Release Date: November 15, 2016
Run Time: 82 Minutes
Country: USA/Australia
Distributor: NetFlix
