Director: Mike Myers
MPAA Rating: R
Purchase: Amazon
Before first reading about the Mike Myers-directed documentary Supermensch: The Legend of Shep Gordon, I was previously unfamiliar with Shep Gordon. After seeing the film, I’m very thankful to now know this incredible story about one of the most influential and well-liked managers to possibly ever exist. From kickstarting the career of Alice Cooper to single-handedly creating the concept of the celebrity chef, Gordon’s career is only half as fascinating as the man himself.
Through archival footage and interviews with Gordon, as well as with various celebrity clients and colleagues, director Mike Myers (probably best known for his portrayal of Austin Powers) tells the fascinating journey of Shep Gordon, starting with a chance encounter with Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin that began his tremendous ascent into super-star-manager status.
One of the most surprising and endearing aspects of Shep, and, in turn, the film itself, is the optimism and true caring nature he constantly exudes. It’s rare that a film that centers around the business side of Hollywood could feel so genuine and lovable, but this somehow does. This is most likely due in part to Shep’s personality but also in the method in which Myers tells the story. He keeps things light and fun, having Shep’s friends tell unbelievable anecdotes and focusing on the positives, rather than feeling the need to rely on the more dramatic elements.
That being said, there is also a bittersweet tone throughout the film, which comes up several times as Shep’s story progresses. Although he’s a friend to everyone and has quite literally dedicated his life to furthering the careers of others, he neglected to carve time out of his schedule for having his own family. At one point in the film, Shep states that he was so busy helping other people to live their lives that he forgot to live his own — a sad but poignant moment.
When it comes to the interview subjects, Shep has plenty of supporters more than willing to dish on the man, including none other than Michael Douglas, Alice Cooper, Sylvester Stallone, Sammy Hagar, Anne Murray, Tom Arnold, Willie Nelson, Emeril Lagasse and Mike Myers himself. These interviews are always entertaining and, at times, very funny. Grabbing a conversation with a few more of the artists he represented would be nice, but there’s still a lot of content here.
Unfortunately, there are no special features on the Blu-ray. No bonus interviews, deleted scenes or commentary are included, effectively making this a tough movie to recommend buying over renting.
Supermensch is a wonderful documentary and a fine directorial debut for Mike Myers, who met Gordon on the set of Wayne’s World. This crazy and unbelievable story makes for a wildly entertaining feature, and with so many docs released every year that have so much doom and gloom, it’s refreshing to see one that has the potential to make you feel good by the end.
