Wild chops, muttons, and handlebars are not just gamey cuts of meat or motorcycle accessories anymore. They are terms in a manscaping lexicon that celebrate hairy achievements in an age when guys seem to care more about trimming their chin curtains and waxing their backs than growing chest hair. With today’s men getting just as many spa treatments as women, and with a slew of new products aiming to freshen and sculpt all manly parts, does all this newfound grooming influence the age-old question of what it means to be a man, or have dudes just finally succumbed to human hygiene?
Oscar nominee Morgan Spurlock (Super Size Me) and executive producers Ben Silverman, Will Arnett, and Jason Bateman present a delightfully entertaining documentary exploring the current state of mandom in America and beyond. Traveling to traditional barbershops and trend-savvy salons across the country and attending an international beard contest in Austria, Spurlock shows us the art of being a man is taken to new hilarious levels. Complete with candid interviews from Arnett, Bateman, Paul Rudd, Zach Galifianakis, and lots of everyday people, Spurlock sets out to uncover the true secrets of being “mansome.” –Genna Terranova
Filmmaker Morgan Spurlock became well known to most Americans as a result of his 2003 film Super Size Me, in which he documented his health as he spent 30 days eating only food from the fast-food chain McDonald’s. Spurlock was raised in West Virginia, and attended New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, where he graduated with a BFA in film in 1993. He worked steadily as a playwright before he produced Super Size Me, which was critically acclaimed on the festival circuit, and became a surprise commercial success. Following the positive reaction he received for his film, Spurlock created a documentary television series called 30 Days, in which he or other participants would immerse themselves in a given lifestyle for an entire month. Spurlock spent the first episode trying to survive on minimum wage, while other episodes documented situations like clueless hipsters living on an ecological preservation farm, and a border guard living with a family of illegal immigrants.
Took me three days; still haven't finished watching it. Take from that what you will.
Disappointing. A potentially fascinating topic is squandered on boring pro-wrestlers and metrosexuals. On the plus side, this gave me the idea to write a slasher film about a maniac targeting metrosexuals. It'll be the "Cruising" of the 2010s!
The jury is still out on this one. Some views are insightful while others seem pretty out of touch.
For some, Tribeca’s become “a great facilitator and promoter of international film and video culture.”