I’m Telling You To Watch A Dane Cook Movie

Funny Money: The Dane Cook Story, directed by Brett Harvey (Inmate #1: The Rise of Danny Trejo) is more than just another celeb “woe is me” story where the celeb blows through all his money and has to learn to live a new life. This is a story of betrayal that would make for an incredible narrative film.

Cook was at the height of his career, filling stadiums, starring in movies and making millions. The dream of any big comedian, fame at a level that few ever rise to. But then he discovered that his half-brother who was running his finances was embezzling from him for years.

If you were watching entertainment news in 2008, you definitely saw at least one story about this. Cook’s half-brother stole millions from him over a series of years, bought himself a second house, cars and started a business for his wife.

Normally in a documentary about this sort of thing you’d just be told by “experts” in the field that read news stories or legal paperwork, but in FUNNY MONEY you get Cook’s lawyers, agents, family and Cook himself. The filmmakers do an incredible job laying this all out using never before seen law enforcement documents and photos - some that even Dane Cook had never seen before. There’s one photo of the stacks of cash from his half-brothers safe that looks like it’s out of a gangster movie.

At the center of the film is Dane Cook’s complete involvement in the film - he’s almost an executive producer on it - as he offered to release his half-brother brother’s ex-wife from the restitution she owes him if she would agree to be interviewed. She did. Her interview is fascinating, watching it you go back and forth trying to guess the level of involvement she had in the embezzlement - and at some point even she questions herself.

Normally I’m not one that cares too much for true crime or celeb docs of this type but this film was incredible. The interviews are perfectly edited and beautifully shot. Director Brett Harvey should be commended for the work on this film. The information and document reveals are something out of an Alex Gibney documentary.

This is a must watch for anyone who is a fan of documentary films. Even if you weren’t the biggest fan of Dane Cook back in the day or bio-docs about entertainment figures - the film should be watched and discussed it’s one of the best of the year… in a year with a LOT of incredible documentaries.

Funny Money: The Dane Cook Story will be on VOD September 29th on AppleTV and other platforms.

Watch the Around the Lens discussion on the film with David J Murphy and myself below. Subscribe to the Around the Lens Podcast on Youtube.

From Luminary Communications:

Dane Cook had it all: fame, fortune, and sold-out arenas. Then he discovered his own brother had stolen millions. Funny Money reveals the shocking betrayal that nearly destroyed him and his fight to reclaim his life.

FUNNY MONEY: THE DANE COOK STORY is a true crime documentary exploring one of the most extraordinary stories behind the rise of a stand-up comedy phenomenon. Watch the official trailer for the new Dane Cook documentary.

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