Because He's Jeff Goldblum

August 1, 2020

Washington Post staff writer Andrews expands on the premise of his profile that claimed that Jeff Goldblum is a universally beloved public figure because he's Jeff Goldblum. This sounds like circular reasoning, but the author illustrates that while Goldblum's persona isn't disingenuous, it is curated by the actor. In fact it's driven by an authenticity Goldblum strives for by selecting roles that interest him; he's jumped from blockbusters to indies, from television series to TV cameos, and even into local theater. Actively disdaining "careerism," Goldblum has also been a commercial spokesperson, released jazz albums, and served sausages from a food truck. Currently Goldblum is possibly seen more in memes than in movies--something the actor has embraced, gathering likes on Instagram, where he displays his eclectic fashion taste aided by his personal stylist and Prada budget. While never gaining access to Goldblum (a fact repeatedly mentioned), Andrews did interview those close to him, who paint a picture of a quirky guy who is genuinely interested in people. Andrews's own enthusiasm, however, can be distracting. In addition to overemphasizing the word Goldblumy and reveling in his own puns, he breaks to ask readers to send him haiku about Goldblum. VERDICT Goldblum fans will appreciate this glowing portrait that also analyzes the actor's appeal.--Terry Bosky, Madison, WI

Copyright 2020 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 7, 2020
Washington Post writer Andrews debuts with a gushing biography and cultural consideration of Jeff Goldblum, an actor he calls “unknowable, strange, and enigmatic, but in the very best way.” Andrews touches on Goldblum’s youth in West Homestead, Pennsylvania in the 1950s and ’60s (his father was strict and used corporal punishment; his mother was a hippie who vacuumed in the nude) and his move to New York City at 17 to pursue acting. He analyzes Goldblum’s best-known roles (The Fly, Jurassic Park); remarks on the actor’s passion for jazz; and delights in his sartorial choices, whether it’s a floral shirt or zebra print pants. Andrew’s chatty approach features campy pen and ink illustrations by Leigh Cox of Goldblum playing piano and literally larger-than-life posing with his shirt unbuttoned; brims with extravagant claims (Goldblum “appears to be aging in reverse, like some sort of Benjamin Button”); and even includes a fake interview between Andrews and his elusive subject. Andrews doesn’t ever quite pinpoint why Goldblum is a perennial cult favorite, though he never misses a chance to remind the reader he’s wonderful. Those similarly smitten with Goldblum will surely appreciate this lark, but readers looking for a traditional biography or consideration of the actor can safely take a pass. Agent: Laurie Abkemeier, DeFiore and Co.

October 1, 2020
Washington Post style editor Andrews' first book examines the life and work of the irresistible Goldblum with a light touch and a sardonic sense of humor. While not an authorized biography, since the actor didn't consent to be interviewed, the book makes good use of interviews with Goldblum's friends and associates, along with the many articles that have been published about him. The result is hardly a tell-all, since most interviewees talk about the actor in the fondest of terms, describing him as delightful or just the loveliest guy, but it does follow him faithfully from his childhood in a Pittsburgh suburb through his pivotal roles in The Big Chill, The Fly, and Jurassic Park and on into his reinvention of himself as a jazz pianist and self-deprecating fashionista. Side trips into an imaginary interview, a selection of Goldblum haikus to which the reader is invited to contribute, and a short play that imagines a 17-year-old Goldblum interacting with a 67-year-old one add to the fun.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)

March 1, 2021
A meandering unauthorized biography of Jeff Goldblum emphasizing his adorable mystique during a fraught cultural era. Washington Post pop-culture reporter Andrews relies on keen research and an energetic voice to portray Goldblum as a self-aware avatar of social media-nourished celebrity. The actor is widely considered to be a thoughtful, decent person, and his ubiquitous smirking visage memes and pranks elevate him above other gracefully aging A-listers. "Goldblum as a subject, though, has the inherent power to make oddities go viral," writes the author. "It seems there's just something about Jeff Goldblum." Andrews emphasizes the critic's role in such contemplations of celebrity, frequently invoking his personal perspective. These digressions include footnoted callouts to his mother, interludes including Goldblum-inspired haiku, made-up interviews with his subject, and rambling meditations on Bill Murray and Christopher Walken ("A Seemingly Random Batch of Paragraphs About Bill Murray and Christopher Walken (and Sort of Warren Zevon and Randy Newman but Not Really) as a Means of Understanding Jeff Goldblum Slightly Better"). Andrews relies on earlier Goldblum interviews, conversations with childhood friends, and the work of critics like Chuck Klosterman. The author covers Goldblum's rise as an actor, from his debut role as a sociopath in Death Wish to blockbusters like The Fly and Jurassic Park, as well as an overview of his gradual transformation into a bohemian fashionista, covering his obsession with jazz piano (which he credibly performs in concert) and his romantic life, including relationships with Geena Davis and Laura Dern. In arguing his acting has seemed blander since the millennium, the author writes, "the theory that Goldblum only tackles projects he finds artistically interesting and never falls into the trap of careerism falters a bit when considering some of his more commercial work." While Andrews establishes that Goldblum embodies a unique brand of self-knowing celebrity, his prominent, exaggerated writer's persona becomes tedious--though the author's core claim may appeal to well-informed trend-spotters: "Seriously, is anyone more well liked than this dude?" Alternately entertaining and tiresome.

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