New Documentary Examines Chevy Chase's Controversial Legacy

Chase became synonymous with American comedy focused on absurd pratfalls and misbehavior in the 1970s. His single season on "Saturday Night Live" earned him an Emmy and elevated him to the status of the official awkward heartthrob of the 1970s and 1980s.

He starred in hits such as:

• "Caddyshack" (1980)
• "Three Amigos!" (1986)
• The "Vacation" film series

The documentary shows this rapid ascent occurring in parallel with his reputation for being difficult behind the scenes. Chase was the star of "Weekend Update," the sketch program's most prominent segment, a parody of news programs where he commented on current events with good and bad humor. It was during this segment that the catchphrase naming the documentary originated: "I'm Chevy Chase and you're not."

The film, directed by Marina Zenovich, addresses Chase's reputation head-on. The word "asswhole" is repeated throughout by friends, colleagues, and critics. The documentary presents stories of arrogance, a sense of intellectual superiority used as ammunition to humiliate those nearby, and cruel comments on TV and film sets.

Chase used this status to push past limits that colleagues were unwilling to accept. It was common for him to say to directors, for example, phrases like "you want to teach me how to be funny?"

The documentary insists that Chase's persona—the charming, clumsy, and snobbish guy who mocks, falls, and gets up as if nothing happened—is not restricted to the screen. The same impulse to humiliate someone for the perfect joke crosses through how he relates to everyone around him.

When the filmmaker asks why Chase thinks she won't be able to explain who he is, he is direct: "Because you're not smart enough." He says this without changing his facial expression. The sarcasm is disconcerting.

Chase has a long list of enemies, but the episode with Terry Sweeney, the first openly gay cast member of "Saturday Night Live," may be the lowest point. In 1985, when he returned to the show as a guest host, Chase suggested a sketch in front of everyone: "I have an idea for a segment with Terry Sweeney. What if we did a scene where we weigh you every week to see if you have AIDS?" In the documentary, Chase says he apologized. Sweeney said the apology was "pathetic."

In the film, Chase admits that leaving "SNL" after only one year was a mistake. He says he left to move to Los Angeles and stay with his then-girlfriend who didn't want to live in New York. Going to Hollywood was also an opportunity to switch from television to film. The decision mixed love, ego, and ambition, but he still seems regretful.

The documentary revisits years of cocaine and alcohol addiction. Chase remembers marathon usage sessions behind the scenes of fame, stays in rehabilitation clinics, and periods of depression that took him off track. When the director asks more serious questions about these problems and about a childhood full of aggression from his mother, Chase responds with jokes.

Near the end of the documentary, the filmmaker questions when he decided to distance himself from his mother. In the middle of the question, he slaps his own face, brings his hand to his mouth, and pretends to be eating a fly. The cut to the present shows a sober veteran living with his family, with more fragile health and working much less.

Regarding "Community," director Jay Chandrasekhar is the only person from the series who speaks in the documentary. They recall constant friction with creator Dan Harmon, Chase's complaints, and his view that the character Pierce Hawthorne was "too old and racist." The relationship between the star and the rest of the cast was already bad until an episode made everything unsustainable. In a backstage conversation, he used a racial slur to comment on how prejudiced his character was. When confronted about why he was using that word, he broke everything and closed a deal to leave the series.

The documentary shows a Chase who is now sober, living with his family, and working significantly less due to more fragile health. He currently dedicates himself to events for fans, attempting to show a more sympathetic side, though the film suggests he hasn't changed completely.

Directed by Marina Zenovich, known for documentaries about Lance Armstrong, Robin Williams, and Roman Polanski, the film presents a comprehensive look at a comedian whose career has been marked by both immense talent and significant controversy. The documentary remains without a release date in Brazil.