“I’m fat. Fat but funny. I’m a swell dancer. I’m goofy, fun, 5’10” in every direction. Got a lot of hair. What else do you want to know?” That’s how Ralphie May introduces himself in archival footage at the beginning of Come What May, a new documentary about the late, great comedian. But in another clip early in the film — this one pulled from footage recorded closer to May’s 2017 death — the outgoing stand-up is more candid: “I’m a very flawed and imperfect man.” May was born in Chattanooga, grew up in Arkansas and died in Las Vegas, but the comedian spent many of his years here in Nashville, where the onetime Last Comic Standing runner-up developed a reputation not only as an unapologetic and often self-deprecating comedian, but also a selfless and generous individual. Co-directed by David Gantz and May’s widow Lahna Turner, Come What May features interviews with Jay Leno, Bob Saget, Jay Mohr, Tiffany Haddish, Kevin Smith and several other comedy icons alongside May’s family and friends, peeking behind the curtain to explore May’s life in comedy and career on the road, as well as his struggles with addiction. On Thursday, the Belcourt will screen Come What May, followed by a post-screening discussion with Turner.
8 p.m. at the Belcourt
2102 Belcourt Ave.
