Spidersecu Don't Believe the Hype

Infamousta brilliant actors, brilliant editing

Glucedee It's hard to see any effort in the film. There's no comedy to speak of, no real drama and, worst of all.

Ketrivie It isn't all that great, actually. Really cheesy and very predicable of how certain scenes are gonna turn play out. However, I guess that's the charm of it all, because I would consider this one of my guilty pleasures.

bregund The pathetic lives of Hollywood street performers are played out in excruciating detail in this film, as they imitate a success they will never attain, while they pose for pictures with tourists. These are back stories that we don't want to see: Sandy Dennis's son (is he or isn't he?), a thin, lizard-like man in a sweaty costume you can almost smell through the television, looking nothing like Christopher Reeve even though he insists he does. An aging, red-haired Batman with anger issues who can't find work because he insists that he resembles George Clooney. A Wonder Woman with no solid plans for the future, drifting into L.A. and making one poor life choice after another, and insisting that she's happy wasting her life away. A formerly homeless Hulk. A bipolar Marilyn Monroe angry about getting stiffed six times in a row on tips. It's all here, in great, ugly, detail; show it to your kids as a cautionary tale about staying in school.Among the many cringeworthy scenes in the film is Superman's visit to Metropolis, a tiny, sun-baked hamlet in the middle of nowhere, where the apparently 50-year-old Superman entertains a crowd of one hundred people and gets to meet none other than Margot Kidder, who hasn't made a film in twenty years, then proceeds to marry his girlfriend while still wearing his sad costume. This is the most depressing film I've seen in a long time.

poe426 The cover shot- of a Superman wannabe stretched out on what appears to be a psychiatrist's couch- was all the impetus I needed to rent this one. Like most of us, the panhandlers profiled here want to be super heroes. Or to at least cash in on the craze. That's the great irony of this documentary: the people profiled here aren't like the nerds in THE BIG BANG THEORY; they are, in fact, the exact type of people who- in the real world- set in motion the kinds of crimes, big and small, that superheroes, by their very nature, try to stop. In language that comic book afficianados would get: It's like The Joker dressing up like Batman. For monetary gain. If you follow me.

MartinHafer This documentary is about four people who have moved to Los Angeles in hopes of becoming professional actors. However, they are still struggling and so they make ends meet by parading up and down Hollywood Boulevard in superhero costumes--making money posing with tourists who want a photo. The four all have very different personalities and are quite captivating as they tell their stories."Superman" Christopher Dennis is by far the most dedicated to his role--eating, drinking and thinking like the Man of Steel. It is not just acting for this man but he IS Superman, as he won't smoke in costume in front of people (though oddly he will in front of the camera)and goads other characters along the strip to not smoke in front of the fans. His apartment is covered in Superman memorabilia and all his energy is devoted to being the character. While all say they want to get more lucrative jobs in Hollywood, this guy seems most content to be exactly who he is now--and he's done so for many years. He is probably the most fascinating of the four mostly because he's so obsessed. He's also interesting because he claims to be the son of actress Sandy Dennis, though her family is adamant that he is NOT! He seems like a heck of a nice guy--though, of course, strange! "Batman" Maxwell Allen is probably the most interesting psychologically. While Christopher is very, very obsessed and odd, Maxwell seems to be on the verge of killing someone or at least making others think he will--as he's filled with hostility, loves guns, and talks about how many people "need a beat down". He also seems to be a very unreliable historian when recounting his life. He talks about having had "special forces training" as well as alludes to working for the mob, having killed someone and having black belts in several martial arts--though even his wife admits that "only about 50% of what he says is true". When he shows up in the film at a psychiatrist's office to discuss his anger, he appears in costume--and, interestingly, the therapist seems non-plussed."Wonderwoman" Jennifer Wenger seems like she's the most likely to have a career in film, as her tryouts go well and she has the looks to make it. Her life in rural Tennessee is discussed and unlike the other three, you get to see her parents and they get to talk a bit on film. Her marriage is also shown--as apparently the two videotaped the engagement and marriage in Vegas. While this may sound rather cold, it seemed pretty obvious that the marriage was doomed--as her fiancé just seemed rather immature and, at times, surly."The Incredible Hulk" Joseph McQueen is very unusual in that once he came to California, he really, really struggled--so much so that he was living on the streets. This is very sad but fortunately by the time the film is complete, there is some hope that Joseph will make it--though it's still a long road. He seemed to have far less screen time than the others.While all these people were struggling, they also had very interesting stories to tell. And, like most good documentaries, the film makers just let them talk--without narration. The film was very poignant, as I found myself being emotionally pulled into their stories--and this surprised me. Some of this was probably due to their vulnerability, some because I wanted to see if Batman was put in jail or hospitalized and part of it because the film really managed to make seemingly dull people interesting. I teach psychology and history at an arts school and am strongly considering using it as a teaching aid for my psyc class AND to warn the many budding actors I teach about the dedication and sacrifices they'll need to make if they choose a career in acting.I strongly recommend that documentary lovers see this film. It's well constructed, interesting and hard to forget. About the only negative is that when the film ends, you really want to hear more about them. I would love to see an update sometime--perhaps they can do a sequel or some special features on a DVD about this.

Adam Donaghey Confessions of a Superhero, directed by Matt Ogens, documents four celebrity or, in this case, comic-book character, impersonators, who work everyday on Hollywood Boulevard, in front of Grauman's Chinese Theatre, meeting tourists and taking pictures with them. Interpolated with amazing stills, the documentary is well put together and really shows the depressing struggle for famedom.The characters go out everyday, hoping to make ends meet by accepting tips in exchange for taking pictures with tourists; and, at the same time, work constantly, striving for a breakthrough in the film industry. All of the characters seem to have a certain sense of humor with regards to themselves and their careers--or lack thereof. And yet they are still driven, and find import in what they do on a daily basis. The film chronicles the daily activities of these four characters; we see them getting dressed to hit the boulevard, visiting their therapists and in their personal relationships. We see that the real heroes are not really the costumes at all--but the people inside. Following is those people inside the costumes.Superman, played by Christopher Lloyd Dennis, is the veteran of the group. Doing this for over thirteen years, he's respected by many of the character actors, the locals, and apparently the authorities (he's never had a complaint, to date). Throughout the film, he forces me to like him: he's very warm-hearted, seemingly selfless and humble. We see him propose to his current wife (obviously, she says "yes") and she's so in love with him and charmed by him, the viewer can't help but fall in love as well. Dennis will admit himself that he's obsessed with Superman--he's got a collection any fanboy would drool over (he boasts spending over $90,000). He drinks out of the milk carton and always has a cigarette in his mouth--unless he's working, or in costume out of his house. What kind of message would that send? Sure, Dennis has a few quarks, but so did Clark Kent (of which he reminds me a great deal). But if anyone's gonna portray Superman, and put that costume on, I'd like to think it'd be Christopher Lloyd Dennis.Wonder Woman, played by Jennifer Gehrt, is the token prom queen from the country. She grew up in middle America, was miss... well, everything, in high school; and probably should have married the popular high school jock and settled down, only to play housewife and pop out kids for the rest of her life, never realizing her true dreams and desires. But instead, she suddenly decides to hop on a plane--with the help of her optimistic mother--and get the hell to Los Angeles. Now she's mostly-happy, recently divorced and hopefully energetic about the future. Sure, she holds her belt up with paperclips and says things like "a doctor may save your life, but will you remember him?" but all-in-all, she's a likable character, who has a lot of fun with her character and is driven to succeed. I wish her the best of luck and by the way, I'd be her Wonder Man any day.Batman, played by Maxwell Allen, opens up quite a bit during the documentary. He shares with us what he shares with his psychiatrist (in costume of course): his violent past. Part curiously creepy and part wishful thinking, Allen's death dealings may all be a kind of fiction; but that makes him all the more intriguing. Why choose Batman? Well, the man looks a great deal like George Clooney--in fact, he was actually a stand-in for him in Batman Forever. Apparently a black belt in several Karate styles--though, you can't tell in the film--Allen's somewhat of a dangerous guy. A quick Google search will prove, at least in part, his shady dealings on the Boulevard. He's heckled many tourists and never hesitates to remind them that he "works for tips!" But despite his many faults, he really does look like Batman. And that's really all that matters--just make sure you tip him, damnit! The Incredible Hulk, played by Joe McQueen, sold his Super Nintendo so he could afford to catch a train out to L.A.; only to arrive just after the Rodney King riots. He played it smart and headed for the Hollywood Hills, he says, thus living a homeless existence for quite a number of years. In the film, McQueen goes back to his sleeping spot and reminisces briefly about being homeless for several years. He really is the kind of guy who's been knocked down so many times, he has no where else to go but back up. And he'll fight for it, until he makes it. The Hulk and I shared a few words the night prior to the opening and what really touched me about his character was what happened after the film. I walked up to shake both his and Superman's hand, and as I shook his hand I reminded him of our meeting. With tears in his eyes, he nodded his head, assuring me he remembered me and thanking me profusely for attending the screening. That sort of genuine humanity should be the earmark of what makes a person successful. Unfortunately, Hollywood may not be ready for someone that real.A lot of people say these guys are nothing more than "costumed panhandlers." I agree with the first part: they are costumed. Costumed superheros.