Alan Yentob, a former BBC executive and longtime documentary producer, has been trying to make a film about Mel Brooks for decades, but he's been unable to finish it. There are reasons for that, some explored here. "Unwrapped" represents his last valiant attempt at completion, but Brooks is not quite ready for completion. This film includes outtakes from interviews Yentob conducted with Brooks decades ago, plus some recent ones.
Mel Brooks is 93 years old, which are words (and numbers) he'd probably hate to read, but he's not going to see this review anyway so it really doesn't matter whether he hates them or not. Still, 93. That's old for most of us. For Brooks, at least in the context of this short film, it is not. After all, he was once 2,000 years old. What's 93? His film and stage classics live on, as funny as ever. He's a national treasure and such treasures don't "age," but "mature," "grow" and "blossom." He'd probably like to read those words.
He'd probably like this film, too. You certainly will. "Unwrapped" is an eccentric perambulation through the years and through the clips _ fast-cuts forward and fast-cuts back, as Yentob, the flawless straight man, tries to corner his elusive quarry into saying something (anything) serious about his art and comedy. Best of luck with that, Alan.
