Cook starts the film jokingly advising viewers to always sign their own checks—but he is not entirely joking. You often hear rumors about athletes defrauded by their managers, but in Cook’s case, it is easy to understand why he trusted McCauley. Although technically half-brothers, their mother essentially raised them like full-blooded brothers. McCauley was also a former correctional officer, but Cook decided to hire him to handle his business affairs after his half-brother survived a particularly brutal prison attack.
If you are wondering how much money Cook had for McCauley to embezzle, Harvey rewinds to chronicle early Cook’s life and career. For some, Cook came out of nowhere, suddenly hosting SNL and starring in movies. However, he was one of the first stand-ups to successfully build and mobilize an online following. (He was using myspace at the time.)
Harvey’s coverage of the embezzlement is rock solid and airtight. He incorporates interviews with several law enforcement investigators from various government agencies. For the sake of closure and the truth, Cook offered to waive the court-ordered restitution for McCauley and his ex-wife, Erika (Montessi) McCauley, if they agreed to sit for interviews. She accepted the offer, but he did not. Frankly, Montessi-McCauley should be embarrassed by her appearances, but it could be healthy for her, because if she watches the film, it will rudely shake her out of her denial.
