Come What May

Ralphie May, a stand-up comedian who shot to fame after finishing second place in the very first season of Last Comic Standing, passed away in 2017 at 45 years of age. In Come What May, a documentary co-directed by David Gantz and his wife Lahna Turner, a nuanced portrait is presented of a man with a unique comic vision who often lived life to excess in every sense of the word.

Using a mixture of intimate cinéma vérité moments, many of which are filmed on his tour bus, and interviews with celebrities giving their remembrances of Ralphie, Come What May has a lot of material to comb through. Some of the best are moments are the quieter ones, such as Ralphie beaming with excitement on the way to the hospital with Lahna at the prospect of becoming a father.

David and Lahna find a variety of interview subjects, many are of which comedians. In particular, Jay Mohr, one of the original hosts and a Saturday Night Live alum, has sharp recollections about the ways Ralphie stood out from the pack of competitors on Last Comic Standing despite not winning his season. Even better are Marisa Peer and Dr. Drew Pinsky who aptly analyze the mental health struggles stand-up comics often face.

Come What May is at its best when it shows both the good and bad sides of its subject. Viewers will experience not only the loving Ralphie May who cares for his wife and kids, but also the arrogant Ralphie May who places his own wants and needs above everybody else. Scenes with his young kids noticing how sick their father is becoming are among the most heartbreaking.

Filled with both vivid moments of intimacy and somber reflections from celebrity interviews, Come What May covers the gamut of a complicated man whose life was cut too short.

Come What May is currently on tour in select cities with in-person Q&As. More information can be found at ComeWhatMayFilm.com. A complimentary copy of the film was provided for review.