Related
There’s nothing monumental or enlightening about the film, but it does offer an enjoyable time.
Morgan Spurlock ’s in style documentary focuses on a small fade of Americana , rather than point out on the entire orchard apple tree pie ( see : Super - Size Me , Greatest Movie Ever Sold ) . It also keeps the prolific documentarianbehindthe camera , rather than in front of it . Whether you ’re a fan or not of Spurlock ’s previous documentary features , you ’ll want to know become in that you ’re conk out to get something slightly unlike withComic - Con Episode IV : A Fan ’s Hope- in every sense of the term .
Many hoi polloi today ( in America and well beyond ) know about theSan Diego Comic - Con . Every July , geek , nerds , movie studio , media outlets and pop - acculturation enthusiasts of all types descend upon the San Diego Convention Center for 4 days of unabashed geekdom , and , in recent year , media marketing and promotion . But there are those for whom Comic - Con correspond promise - a nosepiece between their present circumstances and their dreams of a life history , celebrity - even love . By following a " plaster bandage of characters " who all attended the 2010 Comic - Con with big dreams in towage , Spurlock tries to capture the spirit of this idolise geek mecca through the stories of those present - and of course , a few celebrity guests .
Comic - Con Episode IVis a tough one to guess . After all , I was at Comic - Con 2010 and see , first - bridge player , some of the outcome and/or hoi polloi featured in the film ( let the cat out of the bag to you , potbellied Green Lantern guy wire ) . I ’ve also been attending the ' Con ( as we vets care to call it ) for years , and have long since develop my own impression , opinions , and memory about the convention itself , and the citizenry who frequent it . I say that to say : I ’m not without my bias .
That tell , for me the infotainment is scarcely uncover or surprising - more re - affirming and amusing in the same fashion as re - tell previous stories about a disturbed stumble you once demand . However , for those who know small to nothing about this niche of Americana life - beyond what major medium outlets like to report around the time of the convention - this documentary will expose you to matter you may have never really grasped about Comic - Con . The over - arching interrogative I came aside with , is : will that insight give you unexampled appreciation for the people who screw and lionise this acculturation and lifestyle - or simply provide another opportunity to laughatthem ?
Perhaps this is why Spurlock leave himself out of the film this time around . By but presenting the " characters " - which let in barman / creative person Skip Harvey , costume decorator Holly Conrad , military kin man / artist Eric Henson , Mile High Comics owner Chuck Rozanski , and lovebirds Se Young Kang and James Darling - simply as they are , without move , the filmmaker avoids any commentary on who these the great unwashed are , or the validity of their dreams . We are just left to take these alone human beings as they are , and some citizenry will needs take them as being … well , strange .
Spurlock does deliver the goods in evidence a utter account arc for each of his " fibre , " tracing their journeys through the 4 - day act that is Comic - Con . There are moments of genuine sentiment - both felicitous and pitiful - as some dream are fulfill , and others are not . But with a few debatable exceptions , the film does come through in getting you to care about the characters it acquaint .
The famous person cameo let in name that likely call louder in the halls of the ' Con than in the mainstream arena . Avengersdirector Joss Whedon provide passionate and witty comment on geek culture ; blogger godfather Harry Knowles ofAin’t it Cool Newsreminisces on the convention like a proud uncle ; actor / comedian Seth Rogen talks about the incomprehensible joy of being a oddball ; while comic book icons like writer Grant Morrison ( Batman ) , DC vitality guru Paul Dini ( Batman the Animated Series ) and Marvel co - creator Stan " The Man " Lee all wax philosophical about why laughable record book are important , and/or how the convention has been transformed by Hollywood over the year . There are other noted faces that also show up , to share impressions , ruling and stories .
Kevin Smith ( Clerks , Dogma ) certainly makes his presence felt - both as a no - holds - barred narratorandthe MC for what may be one of the strangest marriage proposals ever take . Smith at once manages to deliver a compassionate defense of flake cultureandan all - too - ego - cognisant jeer of it ; he also imprecate so often that after awhile he had to be bleep , rather than exceed the MPAA ’s allotted boundary for a PG-13 paygrade . But hey : you ask for Kevin Smith , you get Kevin Smith .
In the ending , Comic - Con Episode IVis best suited to those odd about the convention and/or civilisation - or those who already encompass it and just require to live over the experience before the next ' Con needs issue forth . There ’s nothing massive or informative about the moving-picture show , but it does offer an pleasurable time .
Comic - Con Episode IV : A Fan ’s Hopeis now playing in special release and is available on Video On Demand through select cable television and online cyclosis provider .
Check out our Screen Rant Interview with Director Morgan Spurlock and cast member Holly Conrad , below :
