FREAK FILMS: SHAKES THE CLOWN

Sometimes there are films that should have been monster cult hits, but, for whatever reason, never found their audiences. One such Freak Film whose lack of success I never understood is Bobcat Goldthwait's 1992 opus Shakes The Clown. This should have been the film that turned the public perception of Bobcat from "that guy who screams all the time" to comic visionary.
This is the Citizen Kane of alcoholic clown movies. Written and directed by Goldthwait, Shakes... is the story of an alcoholic clown that is, at turns, hilarious, touching, and downright wrong. Jammed with comedians like Adam Sandler (in one of his first films), Tom Kenny (Mr. Show, SpongeBob SquarePants), Robin Williams, and Kathy Griffin, it’s worth checking out just to try and figure out who some of these people are under their clown makeup. It’s worth seeing for Florence Henderson's cameo as a slutty single mom in the aftermath of what was probably the sickest birthday party a child has ever had.
Because of Bobcat’s depiction of a foul-mouthed, violent, mime-hating, alcoholic clown, Shakes... was picketed by clown groups-- no, I’m not kidding-- and never really got the attention it deserved as a film. This movie is Leaving Las Vegas in face paint. It’s Goodfellas in floppy shoes. It’s The Last Temptation Of Christ with a spritzer bottle. It’s proof positive that Goldthwait is much more than the screaming guy from Police Academy.
Some people say this movie killed Bobcat’s career, and that just proves what a cruel place Hollywood can be. Because, if you’re anything like me, after seeing Shakes The Clown, you’ll want to know what Bobcat would have done as an encore.