1999, 1 hr 58 min., Rated R. Dir: Milos Forman. Cast: Jim Carrey (Andy Kaufman), Danny DeVito (George Shapiro), Courtney Love (Lynne), Paul Giamatti (Bob Zmuda), Jerry Lawler (himself).

What may help Man on the Moon be such a great film is that we're in on the joke, something the majority of the people didn't feel two decades ago while Kaufman was alive and performing.

There is a great opening that demonstrates this offbeat style as Andy (Jim Carrey) tries to weed out naysayers in the audience who might not appreciate his story. Because of how we're let inside the mind of the man, the shock material isn't as confusing, and becomes knee-slapping funny instead.

Jim Carrey is incredible in his portrayal of the controversial showman, and even though I wasn't old enough to remember Kaufman, I believe those critics and friends who say that Carrey was channeling Andy must be correct. The shifty eyes, the constant changing of personalities, the friendly yet quirky demeanor, it's all played to perfection.

From what I'd heard of Kaufman I didn't like him, but Carrey makes him a sympathetic character who is all about show business, near insanity but also possessing a genius realized by too few friends and family. And yes, this even includes the most irritating of Kaufman's alter-egos, Vegas lounge singer Tony Clifton.

I absolutely adored Courtney Love in MOTM. As a rock star, and in previous movie roles I felt Love presented herself in an unattractive manner, that she purposefully prevented me from liking her. But not as Lynne, Andy Kaufman's lover. Love proves that she possesses ample talent in her small part in the film, and even gets to wrestle!

Danny DeVito, friend to Kaufman in real life, played George Shapiro, Andy's agent, who also served as an Executive Producer for MOTM. DeVito doesn't shine, but he does come across likeable and professional, keeping Andy grounded when necessary.

On the other end of the spectrum, Paul Giamatti has a great role as Bob Zmuda, Andy's friend and playmate. Giamatti is a riot, even if Zmuda encourages Andy many times when he should be restraining him, Giamatti gives Zmuda a solid edge to the lunacy of what must have been an interesting seat at Andy's table.

Being a native Memphian, I especially enjoyed the lengthy segment dedicated to Andy's wrestling "career" as the Inter-Gender champion and his "feud" with Jerry Lawler. My only knowledge of the events is from the half-hour special on Andy that airs frequently on Comedy Central, which had me despising him for years. However, in the movie, the events are downright hilarious and revealing about the true addiction so many Memphians have to wrestling, and how touchy Southerners are when insulted.

I wish this film could have been longer by thirty minutes to an hour, so director Milos Forman (One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest) could flesh out Kaufman's motivations, as well as the timeline of Andy's life.

That is my only complaint, though. Even without more of those elements, I was enjoying the film so much that I just wanted more of it, I didn't want to leave. Which is ultimately my feeling on the movie, that it is pure joyous entertainment and worth repeat viewings.