Directed by Joel Gilbert, Roseanne Barr Is America is a documentary centered on the life and career of comedian and television icon Roseanne Barr. The film traces her rise to fame, personal struggles, and public controversies, all told in Roseanne’s candid and ear-ringing voice.
The story opens with a symbolic sequence of Roseanne singing the National Anthem intercut with imagery of the American Revolution, establishing her deep-rooted patriotism and rebellious streak. The documentary then dives into her early years in Salt Lake City, where she was raised in an Orthodox Jewish, socialist household that welcomed Holocaust refugees. Roseanne recalls feeling out of place, but her family’s biting sense of humor and her father’s audacity helped shape her bold personality. As a teen, she navigated trauma and shame after becoming pregnant and giving the baby up for adoption, only to be outed later by tabloids.
Her ascent in comedy began at a hippie commune with her first husband, where her natural wit as a waitress led to her performing stand-up centered on radical feminist themes. Eventually, she coined the aspirational Mormon phrase “Domestic Goddess,” which became her comedic signature. Roseanne moved to Los Angeles, quickly rose through the ranks at the Comedy Store, on the Tonight Show, and eventually landed her own sitcom. Though the network wanted her to play a wholesome June Cleaver type, she fought to make Roseanne a reflection of real working-class families. The series skyrocketed to number one, allowing her to seize creative control and fire anyone who didn’t support her vision—including high-level executives. The documentary also touches upon her tumultuous marriage to Tom Arnold, driven partly by her attraction to his childlike qualities.
“…fought to make Roseanne a reflection of real working-class families…”
The final act recounts the scandal that abruptly ended the revival of Roseanne. Following a tweet that sparked accusations of racism, Roseanne was swiftly “canceled,” a moment she believes was rooted in political and cultural misunderstanding. The documentary closes with her fiery defense of free speech, her love for America, and her belief that cancel culture poses a threat to the nation’s future. Throughout, Roseanne Barr Is America presents its subject as unapologetically herself—controversial, outspoken, and still a master storyteller.
Say what you will about Roseanne, but she marches to the beat of her own drum. Her life is a fascinating tale. She is a rare breed—someone who exercised extraordinary control over her life and career…and paid the price for it. Throughout the documentary, Roseanne shows a clear vision of what she finds funny, which led to the success of Roseanne and the first season of its reboot. We also see that there were forces that sought to control her.
As a documentary, Roseanne Barr is America is fairly no-frills. It’s a 90-minute talking head interview with just Roseanne. Filmmaker Joel Gilbert adeptly pieces together clips of Roseanne’s thousands of hours of television time, childhood photos, and home movies. They all serve as a reminder that Roseanne is a brilliant comedian…even to today. There is no denying this is the story of a truly unique and thoughtful person. The best part is when she is honest about the low points of her life, including cancellations, such as singing the National Anthem and an Ambien tweet about Valerie Jarrett.
Ultimately, Roseanne Barr Is America is less a polished biographical profile and more a raw, unfiltered download straight from Roseanne herself. It’s an intimate portrait of someone who refuses to be anything other than exactly who she is, for better or worse. Love her or loathe her, Roseanne Barr has never stopped speaking her mind, and this documentary captures her in all her complexity—brash, brilliant, and still swinging.
"…Love her or loathe her, Roseanne Barr has never stopped speaking her mind."
Pathetic attempt at making this documentary appear apolitical and nonpartisan by leaving out the director’s history as an acolyte of Infowars’ Alex Jones. Let’s not discount his previous film history based on right-wing conspiracy theories. ‘Dreams from My Real Father: A Story of Reds and Deception’ – an attack film on former President Obama based on a disproven conspiracy theory about his parents. ‘The Trayvon Hoax: Unmasking the Witness Fraud that Divided America’ – attacking a child murdered by a psychopath pretending to be a vigilante. Art is not a blank slate. I imagine a review of a film by Michael Moore will not only mention his history as a left wing ‘malcontent’ and also a jab or two at his weight, but a man who believes that school shootings are fake and the parents of dead children are ‘crisis actors’ is pure as fresh snow.