Review of Supermensch: The Legend of Shep Gordon (2013) by Midlands M — 05 Nov 2014

Austin Powers/Wayne's World star Mike Myers directs this documentary about showbiz manager to the stars Shep Gordon and his lifetime of high and lows with a variety of musicians, film stars and even TV cooks! Beginning out in LA in the late 60s, Myers explains how Shep fell into his role by carving out a dark satanic career for gothic legend Alice Cooper before heading in the opposite direction to manage Canadian crooner Anne Murray.

Alongside the obvious stock footage and a few dramatic reconstructions we get fawning vox pops from friends Michael Douglas and Sylvester Stallone who tells us a few (mild) tales of debauchery but sadly most of it is left to our imaginations.

My favourite parts were the latter stages of Shep's career as he helped Teddy Pendergrass face a worldwide audience after a car crash that left him paralysed as well as becoming a father figure to his adoptive family despite having no long-term partner of his own.

These emotional beats are still somewhat fluffy and out there somewhere is the real story of depravity and wantonness but you won't find it here in this flattering facade. A gentle, glossy and polished biopic but sadly it is mostly surface stories we get rather than a treatise on the talented talent manager and his no doubt thrilling life.

A pleasant and sentimental ride that will have you beaming 6.5/10 Midlands Movies Mike.