Last night I got to meet one of the actors of the Worst Movies of All Time! George Hardy runs a successful dental practice in eastern Alabama and also played the dad in Troll 2, a film made in 1990 and rated by IMDB as one of the "bottom 100" -- currently it's ranked #59 out of the 100 worst films ever made. Last night he was invited to our local rep theatre to introduce Best Worst Movie, a kindly look at Troll 2, its cult fanbase and the whereabouts of its cast and makers. George is used as the documentary's focus. A personable ham, he wonders whether he could have been more - a true working actor -- heck, maybe a star. The surprise latent popularity of Troll 2 seems to have given him just enough of a taste of fame to understand the tedium that comes along with it. Spouting a silly catch phrase, "you don't piss on hospitality!" and spending hours on end at a booth at conventions talking to people he doesn't really "get," George reflects on his blessings.
Throughout this journey, he and Michael Stephenson, who played his son in Troll 2, track down all the cast members many of whom seem to be personally disillusioned with their own inability to find success in acting (at least George has his dental practice)! Utah, despite the majestic mountains, looks shabby and downcast. The most fascinating character might be Claudio Fragasso, the film's Italian director. Unable to admit his movie was a low-budget bundle of confusion, he is completely unable to enjoy the ironic hilarity people get from his work. He grumbles in the background, calling the actors dogs and the fans idiots! So why is Troll 2 and not the original Troll a cult favourite? You'll just have to see for yourself - because I completely agree with all the film's fans that praise its loveable oddness. Best Worst Movie shows how the public is never just a passive recipient of mass-media products. We sometimes derive great joy from these products in ways their creators could never have anticipated.
George Hardy and Michael Stephenson in Troll 2.
Throughout this journey, he and Michael Stephenson, who played his son in Troll 2, track down all the cast members many of whom seem to be personally disillusioned with their own inability to find success in acting (at least George has his dental practice)! Utah, despite the majestic mountains, looks shabby and downcast. The most fascinating character might be Claudio Fragasso, the film's Italian director. Unable to admit his movie was a low-budget bundle of confusion, he is completely unable to enjoy the ironic hilarity people get from his work. He grumbles in the background, calling the actors dogs and the fans idiots! So why is Troll 2 and not the original Troll a cult favourite? You'll just have to see for yourself - because I completely agree with all the film's fans that praise its loveable oddness. Best Worst Movie shows how the public is never just a passive recipient of mass-media products. We sometimes derive great joy from these products in ways their creators could never have anticipated.
Loveable oddness: a corn on the cob makeout scene!
2 comments:
I keep forgetting to track this one down. BTW--thanks for the previous write-up of American Grindhouse. I finally saw it, and I enjoyed it very much. I'd have never known about it without your review!
Thanks! Yep- more fine offerings from one of our city's rep theatres, which specializes in trash (yay)! The other is firmly art house so we get the best of both (I prefer the lowbrow offerings myself)!
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