- Rating: ★★★½ stars
- Verdict: "Lorne" is not going to provide you with groundbreaking insight into the "Saturday Night Live" creator. Especially if you already know a bit about him. But this documentary will entertain you for nearly the entire 101 minutes, using "SNL" clips and a host of hilarious cast members to provide an entertaining comedy that will have you laughing.
- Where to watch: See "Lorne" in theaters now
"Lorne" is a perfect example of why documentaries are arguably some of the most difficult movies to make. You don't just have to educate people on a subject; you also still have to entertain an audience. Just in the same way that a scripted comedy or drama does.
The good news, if you're planning to see Academy Award-winning documentarian Morgan Neville's latest movie, is that "Lorne" manages to strike that balance ... mostly. It's a bit of a hagiography, rarely shedding any sort of negative light on Lorne Michaels, the subject of this film and creator of "Saturday Night Live." It's not the most insightful documentary ever made, either. Yes, it probably does give "unprecedented access" to Lorne, as its tagline promises. But for a man so famously enigmatic, that expanded access doesn't ever amount to a groundbreaking revelation.
But as entertainment, "Lorne" is excellent. It turns out, funny people make funny things. Given that this documentary is almost entirely Lorne and members of 'SNL,' Neville gets a dream stable of comedic talent to work with for his documentary. The end product is a documentary that might be more hilarious than your average comedy film.
This documentary shows that Lorne Michaels is 'Saturday Night Live' and that 'SNL' is Lorne
As I already mentioned, the elevator pitch for "Lorne" is that this documentary will provide viewers with unprecedented access to the man behind "SNL." But while this movie purports to be about the man, it's clear that by the end of 101 minutes, it's mostly about the show. Because the man and the show are one and the same.
Or, at least, that's the only conclusion I can possibly draw by the end of this film. Not only is this movie almost entirely about Lorne's time on the show — only towards the end does it delve into his personal life, and even then, often tangentially tied into "Saturday Night" — but the show is integral to the construction of the film.
Most of "Lorne" is comprised of behind-the-scenes footage from production of the sketch comedy show, seemingly entirely from season 49 (2023-24), some archival footage and interviews with members of the cast, past and present. In short, almost all of it is comprised of "SNL," including the narration that accompanies much of the first two-thirds of the film, which is voiced by "Saturday Night Live" alum Chris Parnell.
The good news? This cocktail of comedy makes "Lorne" hilarious. The sketches that make the cut are only the best ones; no need to use subpar material. The people being interviewed are all comedians; they can't turn off being funny, even for an interview. Parnell's narration is also delightful, as are various impressions of Lorne and some animated scenes that provide at least a chuckle or two.
Verdict: 'Lorne' is more entertaining than educational, but that's not a bad thing
Recommending this movie is easy. Sure, if you're looking for a deep dive into what makes Lorne himself and how his origins shaped him, you might leave the theater underwhelmed. The documentary does deliver on those fronts, but nothing it delivers is earthshattering.
But if you want to be entertained by a movie, "Lorne" has you covered. Honestly, you could convince people that this is a mockumentary rather than a documentary. The viewing experience is similar to watching a scripted comedy movie, and a hilarious one at that.
"Lorne" is in theaters now
