From 1983...

You don't really have to be a fan of Andy Kaufman to enjoy this film. In fact, I never really enjoyed Kaufman's odd style of humor ... but I have to admit that this film is naturally funny (like 1999's "American Movie") and truly worth watching.

Basically, we watch two guys--star of TV's "Taxi," Andy Kaufman and wrestling legend Freddie Blassie--having lunch at Sambo's in LA.

The film begins by showing us the premiere for the film ... complete with guys in wrestling masks, dressed like Michael Jackson and other oddities. Comedian Harold Ramis is shown along with Kaufman, who is sporting a mohawk.

"Breakfast..." begins with Andy (in neck brace) getting on the bus to go meet Blassie at Sambo's. Andy narrates--telling us that he is a "part-time wrestler" who fights mainly women. We are also told--now and throughout the film--that Andy is a "famous TV star." Andy says that people make fun of him for riding the bus.

After a "long bus ride," Andy reaches Sambo's and starts getting nervous that Blassie has stood him up. He refers to Blassie as, "top wrestling manager ... and part-time recording star." Andy goes on, describing Blassie as a man who has "waged a one-man-war against ... pencil necked geeks." Kaufman says that people in the restaurant are pretending the don't know who he is.

Blassie arrives and the two find a table. Across the screen, it reads: "Filmed as it happened. The customers and staff of Sambo's appear as themselves." Great dialogue here ... classic Blassie, who remains in-character. The conversation starts with Andy's plumbing problems, then expands...

Food preferences and a few Japanese wrestling stories are discussed until the waitress arrives. She's pregnant--Blassie rubs her stomach for good luck. When she leaves, he remarks, "We don't have to tip her so much when we leave now."

Andy leaves to go wash his hands ... the table of women directling beside Blassie recognize him and ask for an autograph. Blassie turns them down because his hands are clean; Kaufman returns and obliges the woman and looks annoyed when she shakes his hand. The plot thickens.

The two discuss rude fans who ask for autographs and try to shake hands while they are eating. Blassie calls them "ding-a-lings," and demonstrates methods to Andy on how to avoid physical contact with fans. Blassie comments that he doesn't like shaking hands because he doesn't know if the guy just came from the bathroom without waching his hands. Funny segment. And very true. More people should watch this segment.

Kaufman asks Blassie about his recent "career-ending" match with Jerry Lawler. Blassie calls Lawler a "birdbrain," but conversation quickly drifts back to the group of women. Kaufman starts talking with them, despite Blassie urguing him to stop. The girl throws the autograph back; Kaufman throws it back to her. A guy behind the women makes a comment and Kaufman demands "privacy." The waitress comes back and Blassie asks about her baby. When she leaves, he comments that the child will be another one on "welfare."

Kaufman hits on one of the girls who claims her husband is in jail for killing someone. When they leave, Andy gives Lynn his number. More insults are exchanged between Kaufman and the other women. They taunt Blassie who mumbles. The two order desert--Blassie orders ice cream and Andy gets chocolate layer cake. Andy asks Blassie for advise on getting revenge against Lawler. Blassie calls Andy's wrestling men "silly." Blassie goes over his list of injuries and attacks by fans. They begin talking about Andy's match with Lawler again when the guy sitting behind the women come over.

The guy--who looks demented--says that since Kaufman gives autographs to fans, that he's going to give Kaufman something. He then proceeds to pull something very long (a napkin? snot?) from his nose and drops it on Andy's plate. "Now you have something from one of your fans," he claims before he leaves.

"I'm about ready to puke in that asshole's face," Blassie says. "For Christ's sake..." he mumbles.

Andy moves the napkin and pulls out boogers of his own--fake boogers. He sells one--pre-used by Kaufman himself--to Blassie for a buck. The guy comes back and pulls out a series of objects from his nose. "Holy Christ!" Blassie exclaims as the guy pulls out "a bloody one." The guy then throws-up all over the table. They bail. "Holy Christ!" Blassie says as the guy is shown heading towards the door. A worker follows the guy and slips on the puke. Blassie and Andy start bickering--Blassie tells Andy he's paying for the bill since he called "that asshole over here." They then discuss the smell of the barf and Blassie says that he'll vut that guy with his knife if he returns. "What the hell ever happened to the human race?" ponders Blassie when Andy's paying the bill. A good question that is even more profound today.

Blassie continues to give Andy a hard time about that guy as they depart. Andy begins narrating again: "I paid for the check ... and got on the bus."

"I waited for that girl 'Louise' to call ... she must have lost mu number, though." He then explains that some "idiot" called at midnight with the wrong number: "...even though he was a complete stranger, I kept him up for the rest of the night and told him about my Brakfast with Blassie." End.

A great film ... a very natural conversation between Kaufman and Blassie ... Blassie's constant mutterings--especially when he is alone--are priceless.

At one time, the mystique surrounding this film was that it actually was "filmed as it happened." We know now that it was all a work but, at the time, it was--like the wrestling business--protected. And, if you were just watching Blassie and Kaufman, you may believe that it was truly real. The intervention and bad acting of others (in the form of restaurant goers) would have to convince even the staunchest 1980's film-goer that in fact, this was planned. But, alas, for years ... it was a mystery.

Kaufman loved the wrestling business. So essentially--by creating such a film--he brought the protected nature of that business and skewed it into his industry. Ironic, if you think about it.