THE LIFE AND HARD TIMES OF GUY TERRIFICO (Michael Mabbott). 86 minutes. Opens Friday (November 11). For venues and times, see Movie Listings. Rating: NN
Rating: NN
Writer/director Michael Mabbott ‘s faux documentary about boozy Canadian crooner Guy Terrifico ( Matt Murphy ), who’s lovingly remembered by his wife and country music’s best, must have been inspired by A Mighty Wind. Fitting, since this flick blows.
Drawing on a one-joke premise that isn’t very funny, the movie sets out to chronicle Terrifico’s rise from his white trash beginnings to his sudden millionaire status after winning the lottery. He carouses, performs his allegedly brilliant song lyrics and humps his drums. It’s amusing at first but soon becomes painfully unfunny. If that’s not bad enough, there’s a midget sycophant, a cussing ex and flatulent wife Mary Lou ( Natalie Radford , who has great deadpan delivery).
Mabbot seamlessly intercuts archival footage with fake clips and interviews with music legends. But that seems his only editing skill.
The premise for this doc is the apparent mystery behind Terrifico’s disappearance. The real enigma is how this film was able to attract the talents of Merle Haggard , Levon Helm , Ronnie Hawkins and the great Kris Kristofferson .
