Supermensch: The Legend of Shep Gordon

Supermensch is one of those truth-is-stranger-than-fiction tales.

It might veer towards hagiography at times, but its subject is so entertaining you don't even care.

Supermensch sells the impression that its subject is a genuinely good guy.

The documentary is brisk and engaging but feels somewhat scattered. Myers’ inexperience as a filmmaker shows in its choppy narrative.

Myers' sense of humor is interspersed throughout the engaging film, which consists of a host of wild stories, as well as vivid archival footage, talking heads and cleverly made re-enactments.

Light, frenetic and anecdote-rich, it's the kind of back-patting Hollywood toast to the guy behind the guy that's breezy good fun if you don't examine it too hard.

A glorified act of hero worship that leaves one hard-pressed to form any conclusion other than an infinitely positive one about Shep Gordon.

Shallow, but effervescent and tirelessly optimistic. The sheer number of celebrity appearances in this film is unprecedented. Gordon seams to weave in and out of the life of nearly every famous artist relating to film, music, cuisine, you name it. It paints a community of people who most of us are associated with through their fame all centering around someone who, up till now, has been to the majority of anyone out of this circle, an unknown. He makes for an interesting subject, and if Myers has anything going for him in 'Supermensch', it is that. I'm glad for Mike, to be able to come out with a quality film after nearly four years of public silence. His return seems more personal than any of his works as an actor before. Gaining some perspective, all this really is is a victory lap for someone incredibly wealthy and successful. It can be overindulgent at times and Myers' over-the-top lens through which he projected his early comedy films can seep into the narrative and produce some overbearing results at times, though 'Supermensch' feels like a work of minimalist restraint compared to films like 'Wayne's World' and 'Austin Powers'. The tone is lighthearted and fun, which makes the ride a pleasant one, but also leaves you feeling kind of devoid of emotional impact. All-in-all, 'Supermensch' isn't really a warts-and-all, profound expose of a prominent figure in Hollywood, more an surface-level conversation with someone who has some really good stories.