SUPERMENSCH: THE LEGEND OF SHEP GORDON (Mike Myers). 85 minutes. Opens Friday (June 6). For venues and times, see Movies. Rating: NNN
In Supermensch: The Legend Of Shep Gordon, we see a photo of the titular talent manager wearing a T-shirt reading No Head No Backstage Pass. That’s where Mike Myers comes in, all dick-sucking reverence as he directs this frequently entertaining but one-note profile of one of Hollywood’s “nicest” behind-the-scenes players.
Myers has a personal reason for his bias while covering his subject’s rise, influence and generosity: Gordon offered up his home in Maui to the comedian for two months during a time of need. A parade of familiar faces echoes the warm sentiments, including Sylvester Stallone, Michael Douglas, Alice Cooper and Emeril Lagasse.
If Gordon has flaws (womanizer being the most evident), they’re shrugged off as endearing, while darker chapters are hinted at before being skipped over entirely, leaving massive gaps in the narrative.
The doc is shapeless as a consequence, but there are terrific recollections of drug-fuelled parties with Jimi Hendrix, publicity stunts with Cooper and joint custody of a cat with Cary Grant.
These are the kinds of Hollywood tales you could only get from a guy as connected as Gordon, which I guess makes getting on your knees to hear them kind of worth it.
