“Best Worst Movie” was a documentary that caught my attention when I first heard of it. I am not a huge fan of documentaries for the most part but this film was definitely on my radar. Maybe it was something to do with my love for cinema, good or bad. I find all of it fascinating and sometimes the best stories involve why a movie turned out so bad or weird or both in this case.
This film chronicles of lives of the individuals involved in the making of the cult favorite “Troll 2”. “Troll 2” is widely considered one of the worst movies ever made. The film had different effects on everyone involved. Some see the silver linings of being in the film, others feel it destroyed their careers, while others have more pressing personal matters.
The documentary succeeds largely because the story is so odd and engulfing and feels more like a scripted movie in the vain of many Christopher Guest movies as opposed to a documentary. Few documentary films touch your heart and make you laugh within the span of a few minutes. Sometimes real life is stranger than fiction.
The film was directed by Michael Stephenson, the child star of “Troll 2”. Instead of focusing the film on himself, the film focuses primarily on George Hardy. George is a fascinating subject because he is just the right mix of odd and charming to keep the film interesting. George continued on as a dentist after his appearance in “Troll 2” but clearly loved being “a movie star” and loved the attention he got from it despite not being able to quit his day job.
We get to see what life is like to be an actor in a cult hit from the highs and lows. It’s interesting to see how George in particular deals with starring in “Troll 2”. He absolutely adores having fans and people knowing he is an actor. He soaks the spotlight up at theater showings of “Troll 2” yet at conventions where the fan base is a little more diverse, he is very insecure. The most eye opening scene of the film is when George is doing a signing at a horror convention and no one wants his autograph. He looks around at all the washed up actors and has beens and laughs to himself but that is when the reality of his situation hits him, he was a never was. George starts to get boarderline hostile and defensive, calling the attendants of the convention “freaks” as a way to justify their lack of interest in the actor of “Troll 2”. George leaves the convention and you couldn’t help but feel sorry for him. He wanted so bad to be adored and while loyal “Troll 2” fans love him, he is never going to be what he felt like he should have been.
Michael Stephenson managed to do what few documentary filmmakers can and showcase what life is like for his subjects with heart and humor. In that respect, Michael Stephenson reminds me a great deal of Michael Moore. He knew his film should entertain first and then educate. That is the point of this film after all. “Troll 2” turned more into a comedy of errors than a masterpiece, yet there are still film buffs who adore it because it entertains us, no matter what the reason is. This is a film that transcends the subject matter that is “Troll 2”, this is a film that embodies the love of cinema as a whole.
Grade: A
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