A Comedy of Errors: André Ricciardi’s Hilariously Misguided Adventure
André Ricciardi, who boldly refers to himself as a “f—ing idiot,” is regrettably living the punchline of a very dark joke: he didn’t get a colonoscopy when he turned the big 5-0. Spoiler alert: this is not the kind of birthday surprise one dreams of.
After circling the drain of denial, he was diagnosed with terminal colon cancer—talk about a real-life plot twist—leading him to share his rollercoaster ride of woe in the documentary *André Is an Idiot*. The title itself is almost a cautionary tale wrapped in sarcasm.
“This film embraces the messiness of being alive and chooses laughter over fear,” says director Tony Benna, clearly trying to find the silver lining in a situation that sounds more like a bad sitcom than a real-life tragedy. Because, really, when you’re on the brink of mortality, what better way to cope than a good laugh?
Friends and family heap praise on André, describing him as unique, funny, and terribly talented. Meanwhile, André, with the humility of a stand-up comic on stage, contends that he’s little more than a “f—ing idiot.” Guess self-deprecation is his go-to defense mechanism against the existential dread of disease.
Ricciardi lays it all bare in an exclusive trailer for his documentary; apparently unaware that life’s a series of unfortunate events, his lapse in getting screened led to the terrifying revelation, “I lost 30 pounds and was bleeding out of my ass.” Not quite the “best shape of my life” he had envisioned.
With a dark wit that could rival a seasoned comic, Ricciardi uses humor as a coping strategy. He muses about body donation to television and future head transplants, all while planning his last words, “I’m going to get you, God.” Talk about leaving an impression!
Despite the debilitating treatments, his quips about looking better as he loses weight from chemotherapy add an awkward charm to the grim reality of his situation. This film debuted to applause at Sundance, bagging both the Audience Award and the Jonathan Oppenheim Editing Award, as if to say, “We all love a good tragedy, don’t we?”
As Ricciardi’s health wanes, his loved ones grapple with the impending loss. His wife, Janice, openly navigates her “anticipatory grief”—realizing that crying is less effective than laughing at life’s absurdity. André concludes succinctly, “I’m not afraid of dying. I’m afraid for the people that I’m leaving behind.” Now that’s a punchline we can all relate to.
Benna, hand on heart, shares, “In true André form, this film embraces the messiness of being alive and chooses laughter over fear.” If only every absurd horror could end in laughter—what a delightful world that would be! *André Is an Idiot* opens in theaters starting March 6 at Film Forum in New York City, promising to blend tears and laughter like the ultimate cocktail of emotions.
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