I never imagined that a documentary on colon cancer could make me laugh so hard, but that’s what sets André Is an Idiot apart. From the very first monologue, the film’s main character, André Ricciardi, shares a story about, well, a rather embarrassing jerk-off moment at his grandparents’ house, with all the juicy details. As silly as that moment was, it turns out it’s not nearly as foolish as avoiding a colonoscopy. Surprisingly bold and genuinely touching, André refers to himself as an “idiot” for not getting the endoscopic exam that could have potentially saved his life.

We later learn that his close friend Lee Einhorn had suggested they both get colonoscopies when they hit 50, just two years before André’s diagnosis. But rather than sulking, feeling down, or getting mad, André transforms his final days into a journey filled with radical honesty, humor, and a sense of wonder.

When time seems short, maybe one can confront death with a clearer perspective, but I’m not sure I could do it in such a lighthearted way. On the other hand, André has always been a rebel and provocateur in the advertising scene; he’s the type of person who’s always marched to the beat of his own drum, and dealing with mortality is no different. With his friend Tony Benna directing, André looks straight into the camera—cracking jokes while pondering the biggest questions of his life. With his big frilly hair and lanky figure, André comes across as a prankster with a heart of gold. If there’s ever a live-action film of André, I think Nic Cage should play him.

We discover his spontaneous union with Janice, which begins as a ‘green card marriage’ for her Canadian friend, but they eventually fell in love. André and Janice shared a home in San Francisco with their two daughters, all of whom appear in the film. It’s really interesting to dive into André’s thoughts, wild stories, philosophies, and his quirky imagination that comes alive through playful stop-motion animation blended with real-life clips.

I studied Mass Communication with a focus on Advertising, so it’s cool to catch a glimpse of the SF ad agency Mekanism, where André was a creative director. His coworkers shared some of their clever and cheeky PSA ad concepts aimed at encouraging men to get colonoscopies. This film itself acts as a PSA highlighting the significance of colonoscopy. I’m really glad I got mine done before hitting 50 (the suggested age is 45-50). I distinctly remember urging my 52-year-old close male friend to book his appointment ASAP after watching this, since he hasn’t done it yet.

André Is an Idiot pushes viewers to reconsider the definition of “normal” when dealing with illness and loss – and to understand that often, the most effective way to handle life’s tough situations is simply to find humor in them. I found myself both laughing and crying as I watched André and his passion for life… he and Einhorn took a road trip and met up with a sort of life guru to try out ‘death yells’ together. I had never come across anything like that before, but I could imagine it being pretty therapeutic.

The movie doesn’t hold back on depicting the tough realities of cancer, as we see André growing increasingly weak when the cancer spreads to his liver. But even in his moments of pain, André maintains his brave sense of humor. Maybe that’s his secret weapon for tackling life and all its challenges. It’s truly inspiring to witness someone so committed to facing death with such openness and humor, just as he has embraced life.

It seems that Benna honors André’s desire to express himself freely in this documentary, and the bold, inventive storytelling pays tribute to his artistic boldness. The vibe is consistently positive and chooses not to dwell on the temporary nature and fragility of life, opting instead to celebrate André.

André Is an Idiot snagged the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance, and it’s definitely a favorite at film festivals. I can’t recommend this documentary enough; it’s probably the most hilarious and uplifting cancer film you’ll ever see.