Best Worst Movie (2009) Movie Review

Best Worst Movie (2009) Movie, Horror Movie News, Horror Movie Reviews, Reviews — By Todd Rigney on July 14, 2010 |

Like most pre-teens in the early 90′s with a penchant for obscure comic books, “Weird Al” Yankovic, and cheesy movies, yours truly didn’t have very many friends. In fact, it’s safe to say that my meager VHS collection at the time consisted of more titles than I had confidants, an admission that is both pathetic and vaguely heartbreaking. As such, I spent an absorbent amount of time parked in front of the television, my eyes figuratively glued to whatever second-rate feature HBO or Cinemax was airing at the moment. Feel free to poke fun if you like; I’ve come to terms with the dreary and depressing nature of my social situation long ago, which allows me to view the whole sorry situation in a mildly humorous light. Mildly.

It was during these extended bouts of adolescent loneliness that I discovered prolific director Claudio Fragasso’s unintentional comedy classic “Troll 2″ for the very first time. The film, as you may already have heard, is considered to be the “best worst movie” ever made, a term that sufficiently sells the material to those who have yet to experience this B-grade cinematic masterpiece for themselves. Not surprisingly, the film became a close, personal favorite almost instantly, far surpassing both “The Garbage Pail Kids Movie” and “Howard the Duck” in terms of overall schlock. Little did I know that I had gotten in on the ground floor of what would turn out to be “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” of my sad and pathetic generation. It’s weird to discover that so many people adore this bizarre little movie. For the longest time, I feared I was the only one.

Extremely talented producer/director Michael Paul Stephenson, also known in certain circles as the unstoppably whiny and oddly heroic Joshua Waits from “Troll 2″, has skillfully captured the film’s rabid and unrelenting fandom with his thoroughly engrossing 2009 documentary “Best Worst Movie”. Even if you’re a total newbie to the “Troll” universe, the picture is still an absolute blast to behold, as it deals more with the cast’s befuddled reaction to this dodgy film’s sudden popularity than it does with the movie’s overall lack of anything resembling quality. If you’ve ever wanted to know what B-movie actors think of the unmerciful garbage they star in, this is a very good place to start your investigation. After all, it doesn’t get much worse than “Troll 2″.

The film’s centerpiece is George Hardy, the former cheerleader-turned-family dentist who landed the unforgettable role of the film’s hard-nosed patriarch, Michael Waits. The guy is as jovial and down-to-earth as you could ever want, and his reaction to the film’s rebirth as a midnight movie is worth its weight in fried gold. Surprisingly, George seemed to embrace “Troll 2″ and its fans with open arms, as it ultimately provided the “Patch Adams of dentistry” with the fame and adoration he’d secretly yearned for. As he journeys from sold-out screening to sold-out screening, his appreciation for the legions of twisted individuals who love this bizarre gem only grows stronger. And while his eventual burnout and mini-breakdown at a popular horror convention is somewhat jarring, it doesn’t take away from the fact that the guy is as genuine and kindhearted as they come.

Naturally, not every cast member is as willing to openly embrace the phenomenon as George. It’s during this quieter moments that Stephenson really shines as a documentary filmmaker. Instead of exploiting the film’s darker stories and focusing on the misery a few of these actors have faced, he approaches the scenarios with tenderness and understanding. Margo Prey — better known to bad movie fanatics as Diana Waits — is perhaps the picture’s saddest tale. Although Stephenson and Hardy do their best to bring her into the fold, personal issues ultimately prevent her from joining in the festivities. Her eccentric nature, as well as her unusual mannerisms, could easily have been transformed into a veritable sideshow by a lesser director. Stephenson, of course, is much smarter than that, which ultimately gives the feature the heart it needs to drive its point home.

In many ways, “Best Worst Movie” has reaffirmed why, precisely, I adore “Troll 2″. Everyone involved with the project, from misunderstood Italian director Claudio Fragasso to the tireless George Hardy, was dedicated to making “Troll 2″ the best movie it could possibly be without the nudge-nudge wink-wink that comes with most modern-day B-movies. More importantly, Stephenson’s film is a love song to the scores of fans from all over the world who helped save this one-of-a-kind motion picture from the depths of obscurity. However, the documentary never accurately explains why we all love “Troll 2″ as much as we do, though it does offer up some interesting philosophies on the subject. For me, the movie was a doorway to another world, where double-decker bologna sandwiches and dead grandparents could save you from your worst fears. Even today, the film has the power to captivate me like no other. Except, maybe, for “Best Worst Movie”.

Michael Paul Stephenson (director) / Michael Paul Stephenson (writer)
CAST: George Hardy … Himself
Michael Stephenson … Himself
Darren Ewing … Himself
Jason Steadman … Himself
Jason Wright … Himself