Mansome

It's going to be hard to express what a disappointment this film was. I liked Spurlock's other works, but "Mansome" is essentially a complete failure. The problem is, it's simply not funny...at all. The Jason Bateman/Will Arnett pieces aren't remotely funny or even entertaining. They feel completely ad-libbed by two guys with no skills at improv. You would think for the maybe 10 minutes of screen time they had that either they (or some writers) could come up with a few good bits...but not a one!

There are only two bits that are entertaining: Jack Passion and Ricky Manchada. The problem is, we are laughing at, not with, these two real people...and that's exactly the intent. The problem is, while we laugh at how pathetic they are, we actually feel badly that we're laughing (at those of us with a heart) and feel badly for them in turn.

Perhaps what's most disappointing is that with a documentary, you can always "shoot more". There's no way Spurlock and the producers watched this film and said "Wow, this is great...really funny." No chance. So instead of improving, they passed it off and pawned it off on us...taking all their stock way down in my (and I suspect many fans) mind.

It feels like they got a check to make the film and shot the bare minimum to crank out a film. They cashed their checks and went home.

A documentary that explores the question: In the age of manscaping, metrosexuals, and grooming products galore - what does it mean to be a man? Morgan Spurlock is not putting on his best show here, and I think it might be because this film is drowning in celebrities (though this can possibly be explained by the producing of Jason Bateman, Will Arnett and Ben Stiller -- the first two being great hosts).

I like that the idea of mustache = pedophile was brought up, though some people pull it off (such as John Waters). How something fashionable in the 1970s or 1980s could today (2014) be so wrong is amazing, and the transition in popular culture would be worth exploring.

I also really liked the scene with the wrestler shaving. I am not quite as hair as he is, but I can relate.

The staff of the The A.V. Club named it one of the worst movies of 2012, criticizing it as "absolutely insufferable, a shabby excuse for a documentary that sadistically stretches to feature length a premise that would barely support a two-minute short." This is going much too far, though I confess much of it came off as fluff without any real substance.

What does it mean to be a man? That question has been asked by everyone from anthropologists and sociologists to your literal average joe. "Mansome" looks at this age-old topic from the perspective of the modern trend in male grooming, and by that I mean the recent pop-culture awareness of centuries-old male grooming.

Documentarian Morgan Spurlock has always been fascinated by certain cultures, so to speak, and in exploring several characters that are either employed by or at least somewhat preoccupied with the male aesthetic, he attempts to uncover some truths about how men feel about their appearance and how the appearance of men matters in society. He even turns the camera on himself as a mustache-wearer to understand the significance of facial hair.

The subject matter warrants a more open conversation just considering the taboo of men openly discussing the connection they feel between their bodies and their self-esteem. At the same time, Spurlock comes at it with too wide a lens; "Mansome" would work much better as a series of 45 to 60 minute documentaries on each of the "sections" he covers: mustaches, beards, hair, body hair, the face, etc.

As he does so well, Spurlock finds great subjects to follow in each category, people unaware that the microscope is on them psychologically as people as much as it is their facial hair or whatever category of grooming they fall under. We see people with egos, pure narcissists and people more honest about the superficiality of it all.

Between sections of the film we are presented with light bits between Will Arnett and Jason Bateman at a day spa discussing nothing of any true relevance to the big picture of the documentary. In fact, it feels as though the "Arrested Development" stars are acting as the public perception of themselves, not just being themselves, and the whole thing comes across as Spurlock using his Hollywood clout to bring some attention to his film.

"Mansome" also beefs up its resume with interviews featuring Judd Apatow, Paul Rudd, Zach Galifianakis and other notable personalities who can offer amusing insights into "manscaping." Although hearing more from the experts Spurlock interviews would probably bring more depth to the plots of the many subjects of the film, they help with the film's entertainment factor in a way few docs can.

Ultimately, the film raises a lot of interesting questions but never gets the chance to follow through on any of them. The gears will start turning for viewers who have never considered the topic, but there's nothing mind-altering to be found. The most that can be gleaned is that men take grooming with varying degrees of seriousness, and their choice to do so can either be considered highly unnecessary or liberating.

~Steven C

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The construction of masculinity is interesting to me and it really could have been explored. However, instead of spending more time with people like Michael Kimmel (professor) who study gender, they seemed to feel they should spend more time showing random quotes from B or C list celebrities whose opinions I don't care about.

The fact that some irritatingly chauvinist guy from "the man show" thinks women are emasculating men - or the lead singer of Antthrax thinking that waxing is 'gay'... fine, that's their personal viewpoint, which they have every right to (much as I may disagree). What saddened me was they each got got as much airtime as the expert in gender roles.

The saving grace of this film was the time spent with some of the subjects. They were interesting, but also quite sad.

Jack Passion, the beard guy, was an interesting person - but he seemed to have nothing in his life except his beard competitions.

Shawn, who plays an "evil Arab" wrestling character demonizing his culture - has to shave his entire body and sculpt his body to achieve an unrealistic standard.

Ricky, the attractive Indian guy who was ashamed to be Sikh and has internalized the same kind of body hatred that many women have. He is a beautiful man with wonderful family and a strong tradition that he has felt he had to "overcome" and admits to never being satisfied.

I wish they had cut the celebrity clips and really dived more into this subject. The ever changing standards of masculinity, the ever increasing focus on men's bodies and the growing insecurities that parallel women's beauty standards is a fascinating topic.

I hope someone else takes up this idea again because it deserves to be done well.

Sheesh, another Morgan Spurlock documentary. Male grooming - appearance - how men behold themselves - females point of view. Shallow work here, that skittered from one topic to another and lingered too long on marginal aspects (eg: the beard competition). Beards, mustaches, haircuts, toupees, all discussed for no apparent point. Men have always grown or worn those - who cares? Section of the product "Fresh Balls" was funny as anything. Also the older male comments that the current fad for body shaving is turning men into Barbie dolls. Film should have followed that path. Instead this is a time waster with no focus. Spurlock strikes me as more agreeable than Michael Moore, probably better to have a drink with. His output, however, causes me to think he is running out of things to say.