Movies worth seeing

Not quite as under the radar as "A Shock to the System," but "The King of Comedy" easily qualifies as one of Scorsese's most underrated (and rarely seen) films. Too bad ... you're missing one of the best flicks from the 1980s.

As inspired as DeNiro and Sandra Bernhard are as his crazed fans, Jerry Lewis steals the movie. He may be a lousy comic (check that -- he is a lousy comic), but as an actor Lewis is a revelation. I'm surprised Scorsese didn't use him in some later films such as "Goodfellas" or "Casino."

Money scene: When Rupert Pupkin shows up unexpectedly at Jerry Langford's weekend retreat. And watch the reactions of the restaurant patron sitting behind Pupkin as he tries to win over a high school crush.

Smart comedies don't do well at the box office, so it's little surprise the 1983 release was a commercial flop. But with our rapidly growing cultural embrace of celebrity masturbation, "King" has never been more relevant.