Some actors seem unbreakable: They go on and on with each passing year and always seem to be just as sharp and genteel as they were when they first came on to the scene. They age gracefully and take on a warm sense of wit. On Broadway, Carol Channing is that sort of personality. So much so that these days, as the title of this film says, she is larger than life.

Broken up into chapters thanks to some charming Hirschfeld-inspired animation, LARGER THAN LIFE gives us the complete biography of this Broadway legend. Director Dori Bernstein spends a lot of time with the woman who broke the mold for shows like “Hello, Dolly” and “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes”, and lets us listen to story after story of persistence and panache.

Unfortunately the doc is missing something to counterbalance all of those stories – an event in Channing’s life to spark the retrospective. There’s a thin attempt to meld the reflections with Channing’s return to the stage last December. Unfortunately the event doesn’t hold the sort of weight one would want to counter a look back on her life, nor is it really given much more than fleeting glimpses. Matter of fact – we’re given more time with the men she co-stars in the production with than we are with her within the production.

As such, the film does not transcend. It will be a fun watch for Broadway lovers and fans of Channing herself, and while it did give me a good smile, I didn’t leave feeling like I was given a lot of insight into who Carol Channing is or who she ever was. There are stories…lots of stories…funny stories…but they never take us anywhere. They all come together to create a charming little tribute video – which is fine. But if you’re looking for a film, especially if you aren’t a fan of Channing already, there’s nothing here for you.