Best Worst Movie is a documentary made by Michael Paul Stephenson (Joshua from Troll 2!!) all about the "worst movie" ever made, Troll 2. It starts out following the day to day life of George Hardy, who played the father. He is a dentist in Alabama and, like any of the actors in Troll 2, a little embarrassed about his performance. But, he doesn't realize that the movie is a cult phenomenon. The movie then follows him as he becomes sucked into the hoopla of the movie. He attends screenings where he receives standing ovations, signs autographs constantly, and delivers his famous line "YOU CAN'T PISS ON HOSPITALITY" over and over again. Along the way he meets up with the other cast members and director as they explore the craziness of Troll 2.
You can tell that in the beginning of the movie, George Hardy is loving every bit of attention he is receiving. I'm not sure if it is staged or if that is really how it went, but at the beginning of the movie he is just your typical dentist - telling bad jokes and fixing teeth. He is popular in the community but isn't recognized for a movie he made 18 years earlier, he doesn't even mention it to people. But after going to screening after screening, he talks about how he always wanted to be an actor and that it was his true aspiration in life, but his parents told him to be something practical (thank god!! sometimes I wish my parents would do that for me). He even remarks at one point that he hopes the director doesn't show because then he would be the center of attention. Then they decide to have a showing at his home town. He starts talking to every single person about it. He has his nurses call his patients, business hang posters, and he even goes door to door promoting this movie. It's kind of sad. When he doesn't receive the same applause he gets from fanatics you can tell he is a little disappointed. Eventually the hype starts to diminish as they go to memorabilia conventions (where they are competing with star wars and other classic movies) and horror conventions (I don't think I would call Troll 2 a horror film but technically it is). I think towards the end he starts to realize that he made the right choice in life and talks about all the things he is grateful for. Plus after seeing this small town man react to some of the fans at the horror convention, I'm not sure how he would do living in LA or NYC.
Having seen Troll 2 numerous times and even being one of those fans that spreads the love, I really enjoyed this movie and hearing more about the behind the scenes. I think I am more on the actors side of the story, because there seemed to be a bit of language barrier whenever dealing with the director, who is Italian. They had moments were I was laughing right along with the actors, as if I was watching their home movies and was apart of their experience on set. At other times I just wanted to shake some of the actors and tell them to stop being soo crazy and realize that you made a shitty movie (I'm talking to you Margo). However, there were times when they would recreate scenes from the movie. And with that I have to say, I would totally pay money to see a shot by shot re-enactment with the same actors now that they know how terrible the movie is. I think it would be hilarious.
Rating: **** (if I hadn't seen Troll 2 I doubt I would have rated it so high)
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