Confessions of a Superhero (2007) User Reviews

A glimpse of a VERY different world (+ some additional viewing recs)

[prettyh · 8/10 · 14 December 2011]

I rented this doc after reading about it on the blog of a former Hollywood Blvd "character" (you can catch a glimpse of her as "Fiona," the princess from "Shrek," early in the film). This woman made life on the strip sound bizarre, fun, surreal, heartbreaking, beautiful, life-changing, dramatic...and this film backed up her claims. Most of us, as tourists, don't give a second thought to the costumed characters who pose for photos in the hope of getting tips, but once you see this film, that will change.

As the other reviews indicate, the main thrust of the story here centres around four of the most popular characters that haunt the Mann: Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, and The Hulk. Among the many things I wasn't expecting was how well these four performers seem to know each other; I guess I hadn't thought about how much bonding goes on when you're braving the crowds of tourists for several hours a day. It's interesting to see the filmmaker allow each performer to opine about the others, in addition to providing their own backstory and their reasons for how and why they ended up in a superhero costume.

The film is funny, touching, sad and eye-opening. I can't think of any demographic who wouldn't find these people and their lives - so different from what most of us know! - interesting to watch. The fact that the viewer gets emotionally invested in these characters' stories is a testament not only to the film but to the people themselves.

There are also some genuine surprises about the off-the-street lives of the four players, ranging from Superman's story about his movie star mom to the sordid pasts (violence, drug use, marital trouble, homelessness and more) they're all trying to escape. It's equal parts tragic and hopeful.

If you enjoyed this one, the same blog source who alerted me to its existence also recommended two others: "The Reinactors" (dir. David Markey), and "The Ambassadors Of Hollywood" (dir. Archie Gips & Matthew Hunt). Both apparently feature more of the Superman we met in "Confessions..." and also revisit the others, as well as introducing us to a few (like Jack Sparrow, Chewbacca and Elmo) of whom we only caught a glimpse this time around. I'm keeping an eye out for both documentaries, as "Confessions..." was decidedly compelling enough to make me want to know more about the folks behind the masks. See it for yourself and I suspect you'll agree.

Of interest to observers of the human condition...

[MrGKB · 6/10 · 9 November 2009]

...and probably not the majority of IMDb denizens, "Confessions of a Superhero" is nonetheless remarkably entertaining for what it is: a peek into the lives of four earnest souls struggling to find their place in the grand scheme of things. The hook? They're all glorified panhandlers on Hollywood Boulevard, earning a living (and apparently viable ones) by dressing up as various well-known comic book characters and soliciting tips for posing with starry-eyed tourists with cameras. Only in America, Constant Reader, and only in Hollywood...

The film's quartet of subjects--an impulsive, naive homecoming queen from a backwater Tennessee town ("Wonder Woman"), an earnest young black man scraping his way out from the bottom of society's barrel ("The Incredible Hulk"), a self-absorbed borderline sociopath with anger management issues ("Batman"), and an equally narcissistic but utterly harmless obsessive ("Superman")--serve to illustrate documentarian Matthew Ogens' non-judgmental look at some of the seamier aspects of the uniquely American cult of personality and the attendant pursuit of that ever-elusive Warholian fifteen minutes of fame. Each are endearing in their own way, with the possible exception of "Batman," and even he provides an opportunity for empathy and understanding, thanks to Ogens' reasonably evenhanded impartiality. All of them are people who will remind the viewer of "characters" they know in his or her own life.

This is not a "great" documentary by any means, but it's still more than watchable (read: entertaining), and offers up no small slice of insight into the human condition. We're all deeply flawed creatures, and by and large all yearn to transcend our imperfections. Some succeed, and many fail, and none of us ought feel superior to others for having tried and fallen short. I finished this film wishing all of its participants well, even "Batman." As the saying goes, there but for the grace of God go I.

Definitely worth a watch, though not really a keeper, "Confessions of a Superhero" reminds all of us that feet of clay cannot truly prevent any of us from aspiring to soar among the clouds.

Interesting from a psychology perspective, I guess...

[controlclerk · 7/10 · 18 December 2008]

I gave this a seven stars simply because it entertained me. But know this, I am easily entertained. ;) To me, the only sympathetic individual was the "Hulk." He seemed to actually have integrity. I can't say anything negative about the guy at all. But I don't know these people, so I'm just relating what I got from the movie. "Superman" was a nice guy, although I'm not sure if I believe his claim about being that actress' son, especially since her entire family denies it. I think he may be delusional. The ultimate irony is that his wife is a psychiatrist, which only tells me psychiatry isn't about helping people to better themselves as much as it is about making people feel good about themselves, regardless of what they do. He seems harmless though.

"Wonder Woman" seems like the typical small town pretty girl. I'm sure all her life she was treated better than most in that little town simply because she is pretty, so what's the next logical step? Hollywood! But this girl has a lot of growing up to do. Hopefully she'll date someone longer than 2 weeks before she marries again. She also seemed pretty elitist in how she talked about her home town. I thought the dichotomy in her and her mother's explanation for leaving was humorous, in a sadistic way.

Now we come to the crown jewel- nanananananananananana "Batman"! This dude is a scumbag, at least that's how they made him out. Pathological/habitual liar ftw! He wants people to think he was Special Forces and a black belt in several forms of martial arts. He then goes to some karate class and he can't keep up with BASIC stances or turns that a child can do on their first day. I mean, he does EVERY move wrong, and I'm talking about STANCES and TURNS, not even sparring. He also likes to talk about something he doesn't like to talk about (big indication he's a liar)- that he has a "body count." The moron brings his fantasy to a shrink who asks the begged for question- "Is this a confession?" To which he responds with nervous laughter. The best part was when the shrink says, "Were you arrested?" and he says, "UNFORTUNATELY, no." UNFORTUNATELY???!!! The shrink says, "There's no statute of limitations on murder" and then he gives some BS explanation about how "there's nothing" to connect him to it because it was in the '80's, and we all know that in the '80's you could get rid of evidence whereas "you can't do that now." Riiight. Another comedic gem is the News footage they show of his confrontation that leads to his arrest. His flamboyant "line in the sand" had me laughing out loud and I had to rewind and watch it again.

All in all, if you're interested in seeing people suffering from different psychoses then this will definitely interest you. The "Hulk" seemed to be the only grounded individual and I wish him well in his movie career. To the others I say, good luck because they're definitely going to need it (although "Wonder Woman" could probably have a lucrative porn career...)

Overrated, decent but still overrated

[AClockworkOrangeBox · 30 March 2009]

I wanted to know why this had such high praise and after watching it online just now I am still wondering that. Some of the positive include a unique subject matter, sort of interesting profiles, and a good budget that showed with the quality of production.

I still couldn't help but feel like this might have been better served as a short film, as opposed to it's feature length.

The lives our "superheroes" live are sad, and while some aspects are interesting I didn't find them endearing or terribly entertaining. They were also not particularly inspiring, like the director might have intended them to be. I found myself looking at the clock waiting for it to end.

While I appreciate the effort I think this runs flat and would have enjoyed a more complex theme attached to the story.

If you enjoy documentaries and want something different keep looking. Between Amazon, Snagfilms, Hulu.com, and Netflix you will be able to find much better documentaries that profile the stranger side of life. Would have been much better served as a short film.

6 out of 10

Fascinating and somewhat depressing

[cricketbat · 6/10 · 3 January 2020]

A fascinating and somewhat depressing look into the world of some street performers in Hollywood. A good documentary for those who have dreams of making it big in movies.

Superheroes come in all different packages

[adamdonaghey · 9/10 · 29 April 2007]

Confessions of a Superhero, directed by Matt Ogens, documents four celebrity or, in this case, comic-book character, impersonators, who work everyday on Hollywood Boulevard, in front of Grauman's Chinese Theatre, meeting tourists and taking pictures with them. Interpolated with amazing stills, the documentary is well put together and really shows the depressing struggle for famedom.

The characters go out everyday, hoping to make ends meet by accepting tips in exchange for taking pictures with tourists; and, at the same time, work constantly, striving for a breakthrough in the film industry. All of the characters seem to have a certain sense of humor with regards to themselves and their careers--or lack thereof. And yet they are still driven, and find import in what they do on a daily basis. The film chronicles the daily activities of these four characters; we see them getting dressed to hit the boulevard, visiting their therapists and in their personal relationships. We see that the real heroes are not really the costumes at all--but the people inside. Following is those people inside the costumes.

Superman, played by Christopher Lloyd Dennis, is the veteran of the group. Doing this for over thirteen years, he's respected by many of the character actors, the locals, and apparently the authorities (he's never had a complaint, to date). Throughout the film, he forces me to like him: he's very warm-hearted, seemingly selfless and humble. We see him propose to his current wife (obviously, she says "yes") and she's so in love with him and charmed by him, the viewer can't help but fall in love as well. Dennis will admit himself that he's obsessed with Superman--he's got a collection any fanboy would drool over (he boasts spending over $90,000). He drinks out of the milk carton and always has a cigarette in his mouth--unless he's working, or in costume out of his house. What kind of message would that send? Sure, Dennis has a few quarks, but so did Clark Kent (of which he reminds me a great deal). But if anyone's gonna portray Superman, and put that costume on, I'd like to think it'd be Christopher Lloyd Dennis.

Wonder Woman, played by Jennifer Gehrt, is the token prom queen from the country. She grew up in middle America, was miss... well, everything, in high school; and probably should have married the popular high school jock and settled down, only to play housewife and pop out kids for the rest of her life, never realizing her true dreams and desires. But instead, she suddenly decides to hop on a plane--with the help of her optimistic mother--and get the hell to Los Angeles. Now she's mostly-happy, recently divorced and hopefully energetic about the future. Sure, she holds her belt up with paperclips and says things like "a doctor may save your life, but will you remember him?" but all-in-all, she's a likable character, who has a lot of fun with her character and is driven to succeed. I wish her the best of luck and by the way, I'd be her Wonder Man any day.

Batman, played by Maxwell Allen, opens up quite a bit during the documentary. He shares with us what he shares with his psychiatrist (in costume of course): his violent past. Part curiously creepy and part wishful thinking, Allen's death dealings may all be a kind of fiction; but that makes him all the more intriguing. Why choose Batman? Well, the man looks a great deal like George Clooney--in fact, he was actually a stand-in for him in Batman Forever. Apparently a black belt in several Karate styles--though, you can't tell in the film--Allen's somewhat of a dangerous guy. A quick Google search will prove, at least in part, his shady dealings on the Boulevard. He's heckled many tourists and never hesitates to remind them that he "works for tips!" But despite his many faults, he really does look like Batman. And that's really all that matters--just make sure you tip him, damnit! The Incredible Hulk, played by Joe McQueen, sold his Super Nintendo so he could afford to catch a train out to L.A.; only to arrive just after the Rodney King riots. He played it smart and headed for the Hollywood Hills, he says, thus living a homeless existence for quite a number of years. In the film, McQueen goes back to his sleeping spot and reminisces briefly about being homeless for several years. He really is the kind of guy who's been knocked down so many times, he has no where else to go but back up. And he'll fight for it, until he makes it. The Hulk and I shared a few words the night prior to the opening and what really touched me about his character was what happened after the film. I walked up to shake both his and Superman's hand, and as I shook his hand I reminded him of our meeting. With tears in his eyes, he nodded his head, assuring me he remembered me and thanking me profusely for attending the screening. That sort of genuine humanity should be the earmark of what makes a person successful. Unfortunately, Hollywood may not be ready for someone that real.

A lot of people say these guys are nothing more than "costumed panhandlers." I agree with the first part: they are costumed. Costumed superheros.

Very weird but very memorable

[planktonrules · 9/10 · 21 July 2008]

This documentary is about four people who have moved to Los Angeles in hopes of becoming professional actors. However, they are still struggling and so they make ends meet by parading up and down Hollywood Boulevard in superhero costumes--making money posing with tourists who want a photo. The four all have very different personalities and are quite captivating as they tell their stories.

"Superman" Christopher Dennis is by far the most dedicated to his role--eating, drinking and thinking like the Man of Steel. It is not just acting for this man but he IS Superman, as he won't smoke in costume in front of people (though oddly he will in front of the camera)and goads other characters along the strip to not smoke in front of the fans. His apartment is covered in Superman memorabilia and all his energy is devoted to being the character. While all say they want to get more lucrative jobs in Hollywood, this guy seems most content to be exactly who he is now--and he's done so for many years. He is probably the most fascinating of the four mostly because he's so obsessed. He's also interesting because he claims to be the son of actress Sandy Dennis, though her family is adamant that he is NOT! He seems like a heck of a nice guy--though, of course, strange!

"Batman" Maxwell Allen is probably the most interesting psychologically. While Christopher is very, very obsessed and odd, Maxwell seems to be on the verge of killing someone or at least making others think he will--as he's filled with hostility, loves guns, and talks about how many people "need a beat down". He also seems to be a very unreliable historian when recounting his life. He talks about having had "special forces training" as well as alludes to working for the mob, having killed someone and having black belts in several martial arts--though even his wife admits that "only about 50% of what he says is true". When he shows up in the film at a psychiatrist's office to discuss his anger, he appears in costume--and, interestingly, the therapist seems non-plussed.

"Wonderwoman" Jennifer Wenger seems like she's the most likely to have a career in film, as her tryouts go well and she has the looks to make it. Her life in rural Tennessee is discussed and unlike the other three, you get to see her parents and they get to talk a bit on film. Her marriage is also shown--as apparently the two videotaped the engagement and marriage in Vegas. While this may sound rather cold, it seemed pretty obvious that the marriage was doomed--as her fiancé just seemed rather immature and, at times, surly.

"The Incredible Hulk" Joseph McQueen is very unusual in that once he came to California, he really, really struggled--so much so that he was living on the streets. This is very sad but fortunately by the time the film is complete, there is some hope that Joseph will make it--though it's still a long road. He seemed to have far less screen time than the others.

While all these people were struggling, they also had very interesting stories to tell. And, like most good documentaries, the film makers just let them talk--without narration. The film was very poignant, as I found myself being emotionally pulled into their stories--and this surprised me. Some of this was probably due to their vulnerability, some because I wanted to see if Batman was put in jail or hospitalized and part of it because the film really managed to make seemingly dull people interesting. I teach psychology and history at an arts school and am strongly considering using it as a teaching aid for my psyc class AND to warn the many budding actors I teach about the dedication and sacrifices they'll need to make if they choose a career in acting.

I strongly recommend that documentary lovers see this film. It's well constructed, interesting and hard to forget. About the only negative is that when the film ends, you really want to hear more about them. I would love to see an update sometime--perhaps they can do a sequel or some special features on a DVD about this.

How does being a hero sandwich with Real Life as opposed to Reel Life?

[AirBourne_Bds · 9/10 · 19 December 2008]

They came, dreaming to be stars - never feeling they'd end up living nightmares as sexless prostitutes.

Homeless Hulk, reduced to celebrating earning a part as a villain's sidekick in a film that few will see and less will remember; venerating where he slept in an alley-way and yet in a quest for the almighty dollar blacks out in 130 degree heat...

Batman - more of a joke, a villain in his own mind? Claims to have Steven Segal-like capabilities yet when in in a real martial arts class his inadequacies are magnified to a humiliating extent; angry at no tips one day he finally gets the fame he wants but not in the way he expected and reduced to security work hoping to get recognised for auditioning a role...

Wonder Woman - she leaves a small town in Tennessee from a father who's a preacher only to attend a Baptist church in Hollywood with her soon-to-be estranged husband; wanting to be accepted for serious roles and earning only bimbo parts she keeps the wolf from the door posing as the mighty Amazon for cheap Asians while in the background Hispanic hot-dog vendors drool over her...

Superman - the most noble yet most tragic of them all... Is he really the son of Sandy Dennis? He says yes, but her family is unsure. Christopher Dennis' fixation on Kal-El: Last Son Of Krypton is more than obsession it is tunnel-vision as opposed to Heat rays or X-ray vision.

He is the real story of this documentary that is a real life drama, eventually falling for a psychology student who observes him, he uses his tips to make his tiny dwelling a Fortress of Devotion to all that is Superman.

On the streets, he strives ceaselessly to be the hero he yearns to emulate - no smoking, avoid cussing, etc. Even the Hollywood police admire how Christopher not only upholds the rules but makes sure others follow the correct path. But at home he is a chain-smoking, drink milk from the bottle, average horny devil! (On the DVD you can see him get aroused over his wife in the extra features, he shows it off by sprawling his legs - no less) These are but a few of the many intriguing characters who butt and abound the world-famous Grauman's Chinese Theatre, all hoping the begging they do is merely a sideline to the big ticket for Glory and not a permanent "job" in obscurity - after all as Stan Lee says in the same flick... How can you be famous if you're wearing a mask?

Doc on caped imitators flies in circles.

[st-shot · 5/10 · 12 August 2010]

Confessions of a Super Hero is a rather glum documentary with very little wiggle room to expand beyond its original premise of four misfits costuming themselves in super hero to make a living on Hollywood Boulevard. Talk about your boulevard of broken dreams.

Confessions follows four (Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and Hulk) comic book hero impersonators as they make their daily appearances and delude themselves into thinking they have a future in the movie industry. Three of the four seem to be in serious denial (is this a prerequisite to going' Hollywood) as they hope to catapult to success with the flimsiest of chances by working for tips by posing with tourists on Vicki Lester's corner. It's a hopeless situation from the outset and the doc just kind of gloomily lies around reaffirming things for the last hour with our heroes and their faithful spouses fighting the heat, anger issues and union workers over a port a john before fading into the wallpaper.

Director Matthew Ogens needlessly stretches out Super Hero by flogging it with jump cut filler and scenes in need of trim. It doesn't help that Superman and Batman may well be living in a parallel universe and seem less than forthright about their pasts which make for moments of uncomfortable, embarrassment. But Ogens does himself no favor by filming the fully costumed Batman in therapy admitting to murdering someone. It reeks along with much of Confessions of a Super Hero of false declaration that Ogens not only depends on but showcases resulting in it being more exploitive than revealing.

Wonder Woman: "God, this is a train wreck. But you can't look away. You can't."

[M_Exchange · 8/10 · 9 February 2021]

So Wonder Woman/ Jennifer Wenger actually described this entire documentary in a few sentences when she described Hollywood Superman/ Christopher Dennis.

When I watched this film for the first time ten years ago during 2011 I had no idea that I was going to meet Christopher Dennis months later and speak with him bimonthly for years. By that time, he had divorced his wife Bonnie, who he was shown marrying in this film. He said only positive things about her, but he seemed to have only a passing knowledge about her. When I asked him, "she is a psychologist, right?" he replied, "no, she is a psychiatrist." Incorrect. His ignorance about someone with whom he was supposedly close is representative of this entire film. The "actors" who were featured in it were mostly selfish and myopic, and they had great difficulty in having sustained, healthy relationships with people and reality in general as a result. Fascinating.

Also, for me, it has great sentimental value. It shows Los Angeles before its slow, excruciating death during the last several years-- a place of many opportunities for people who could rein in their insanities, however temporarily.

Jennifer Wenger, who I believe is the best actor by far in the film and is part of what makes it watchable, accomplished it. She married a B list actor, and she made a name for herself in underground movies. Her "costars" in this film didn't fare nearly as well. Christopher Dennis has died from a meth addiction, Batman/ Maxwell Allen was banned from "performing" on Hollywood Boulevard and was forced to move onto Las Vegas, and I saw Hulk/ Joe McQueen on the boulevard as recently as 2019.

Sad. But you can't look away. You can't.

Sympathetic Portrayal of Some Genuinely Quirky Folks

[howyoodoon · 8/10 · 21 February 2024]

I loved this film and it has "stayed with me" since I first saw it in 2007. If anything, it's even more poignant in light of how its centerpiece character met his ultimate fate. I admire how the filmmakers didn't patronize or make fun of their subjects. Christopher Lloyd Dennis, a genuine oddball, is portrayed in a straight-forward, non-judgmental way, and is actually quite likeable. The film's ancillary characters, most especially the Texas Batman impersonator, certainly less-so. At one point, he even seemingly confesses to have committed a murder. All in all, a well-crafted film and a fairly unfiltered window into an otherwise unknown world.

Up, Up & Stay!

[thesar-2 · 8/10 · 29 August 2010]

I've seen plenty, though certainly not the majority, of documentaries, and I must say Confessions of a Superhero is one of the most widely original to date. What other director tackles not just superheroes, but panhandlers posed as fantasy characters hanging around for a few bucks for a picture with tourists?

Now, a premise can't sustain an entire feature, so luckily, Director Ogens kept up the decent pacing with the backgrounds, decent and sometimes laugh out loud dialogue and earnest people trying to make a living. In addition, the focus, the instrumental music and freeze frames were all effective and moved the "drama" through to the end. Ogens truly made you care if these people succeed or not.

Though there are other characters out there, including Marilyn Monroe, Ghost Rider and a few Star Wars & Sesame Street tributes, the movie focuses on four main panhandlers: Superman (Dennis), Batman (Allen), Wonder Woman (Wenger) and The Hulk (McQueen.) I do hate using that word: panhandlers, even though that's how they categorized themselves. After watching this, I side with "Performers" or even "Street Performers." None of them are homeless, each have somewhat of a family – aside from Hulk, unfortunately for him and each make even more than me at times.

During this well laid out journey, we get interviews with the subjects, of course, but a lot of their families and videos of their youths or adulthood, such as a marriage trip to Las Vegas. My personal favorite was a trip made to Metropolis, Illinois and that – sorry, spoiler – is basically the climax. Personally, I was wrapped up in the film, but I was thoroughly looking forward to that because, well…I've been there!

Picture it: Tuesday, October 3, 1995 (I only remember the exact day, because it was the day of the first OJ Simpson verdict) East Peoria, Ill, me and my friend were visiting, and scouting out if we were going to move to Illinois, and we were getting ready to make the journey down south to the very, VERY southern tip of Illinois. We left the hotel late – again, everyone was in the lobby watching the verdict on the tele, but way unbeknownst to me how far this journey south would be, not to mention I got lost once.

We didn't make it to Metropolis until late, like 6 or 7PM, it ended up as a 6 hour drive with the (Certainly no MapQuest/GPS in those days for normal folk) getting lost stint. Unfortunately, everything was pretty much closed. So we just wandered the town for a bit, I took plenty of pics with my cheap camera. Since this is my only, hopefully not forever, trip there since (15 years) I wish I had a better camera. And then we simply went back to the hotel in Peoria, Ill.

Sorry to get off track, these are just as much as my blogs/journals as they are my reviews.

Anyways…so Supe and his wife make it there following The ULTIMATE Superman, Christopher Reeve just passed on. There, they meet Margot Kidder – my #1 Lois Lane, and a few big surprises happen.

Back to the LA streets, namely in front of Mann's Chinese Theatre, you'll dive into Wenger's story of yearning to be in the entertainment industry, or just plain acting. There's really no reason she shouldn't be; she's gorgeous and not only can she perform well – speaking mainly from her auditions, she can certainly act circles around a lot of the actresses I see in movies today, namely Kristen Stewart in Twilight.

Also there's the "black" Hulk, or black under, McQueen who was homeless and worked his way up high enough to get the Hulk's job on the street. I only bring up black, because he does a few times.

Finally the real stars of this documentary on these performer's journey for tips from tourists: Allen's Batman and Dennis's Superman. I'll begin with Allen. Seriously – this man was Batman, in and out. He's a martial artist, he's thoroughly angry and before they mentioned it in the movie, I noticed his uncanny resemblances to George Clooney – Movie Batman #3. This is his unfortunate downfall, as he didn't plan on donning a costume to spread his cape around strangers; he truly came to Hollywood to be an actor, only no one will hire a look-alike.

Luckily, he has his wife and his anger to fall back on. But, he gets along with his rock, Dennis, who took him in and keeps him on solid ground, so to speak.

And finally, Dennis…Say what you will, but damn! This guy looked so incredibly close to the late Reeve – the thin one. Like there's a Fat & Skinny Elvis, Reeve also had those phases. To boot, he's a huge Superman Fan – SO AM I, btw – and he's got his place covered, wall to wall with collectables. In addition, he takes his time thoroughly preparing for the street roll. He must use half a can of hairspray on that Superman Curl. All that, and he's got the lingo, the morals (out, when he's performing, that is) and dialogue down pat.

I envy this guy. If I had half the balls as this guy's, I'd be out there too, all dressed up. Unfortunately for me, I'd be so caught up in character, literally trying to jump and fly, I'd forget I was there for tips.

Ah-hem…anyways, this movie was very good. It's deep, but not too deep and just perfect for the subject matter. Sure, some of the drama was reached for, but it's forgivable since it wasn't over-the-top like the dumbass reality shows on TV. So…it's no "MTV's Real World: DC Universe."

snooozer....

[eduardo10075 · 5/10 · 17 November 2008]

Wouldn't go out of my way to find this one...okay for late-night viewing if you channel-surf to it.

I think Morgan Spurlock dresses up in the Superman suit in the telephone booth to introduce the film, but that also falls a bit flat.

The characters and their stories just aren't that exceptional or interesting. The small-town history of the Wonder Woman character is a perfect example. Whether Christopher Dennis is really Sandy Dennis's son is somewhat interesting, but left unresolved.

Also interesting is that Christopher Dennis certainly doesn't have the Superman physique. Margot Kidder mentions this in a roundabout way. He should wear a padded-suit-image a 98lb weakling instead!

His obsession with Superman reminded me of another film called Cinemania (2002 Angela Christlieb) about NY city film obsessives.

The irony...

[poe426 · 4/10 · 8 September 2008]

The cover shot- of a Superman wannabe stretched out on what appears to be a psychiatrist's couch- was all the impetus I needed to rent this one. Like most of us, the panhandlers profiled here want to be super heroes. Or to at least cash in on the craze. That's the great irony of this documentary: the people profiled here aren't like the nerds in THE BIG BANG THEORY; they are, in fact, the exact type of people who- in the real world- set in motion the kinds of crimes, big and small, that superheroes, by their very nature, try to stop. In language that comic book afficianados would get: It's like The Joker dressing up like Batman. For monetary gain. If you follow me.

Cringeworthy

[bregund · 5/10 · 7 September 2013]

The pathetic lives of Hollywood street performers are played out in excruciating detail in this film, as they imitate a success they will never attain, while they pose for pictures with tourists. These are back stories that we don't want to see: Sandy Dennis's son (is he or isn't he?), a thin, lizard-like man in a sweaty costume you can almost smell through the television, looking nothing like Christopher Reeve even though he insists he does. An aging, red-haired Batman with anger issues who can't find work because he insists that he resembles George Clooney. A Wonder Woman with no solid plans for the future, drifting into L.A. and making one poor life choice after another, and insisting that she's happy wasting her life away. A formerly homeless Hulk. A bipolar Marilyn Monroe angry about getting stiffed six times in a row on tips. It's all here, in great, ugly, detail; show it to your kids as a cautionary tale about staying in school.

Among the many cringeworthy scenes in the film is Superman's visit to Metropolis, a tiny, sun-baked hamlet in the middle of nowhere, where the apparently 50-year-old Superman entertains a crowd of one hundred people and gets to meet none other than Margot Kidder, who hasn't made a film in twenty years, then proceeds to marry his girlfriend while still wearing his sad costume. This is the most depressing film I've seen in a long time.

This film makes you uncomfortable, but somehow wanting more.

[oscar-35 · 1 January 2013]

*Spoiler/plot- Confessions of a Superhero, 2007, This documentary film follows the work, lives and dreams of four performers that dress like comic book heroes to be photographed with Hollywood's tourists.

*Special Stars- Christopher Dennis, Maxwell Allen, Jennifer Wenger, Joe McQueen.

*Theme- Living the dream is sometimes a bad nightmare if no reality is in your life.

*Trivia/location/goofs- documentary or 'mock'umentary depending on your P.O.V., Shot mostly in Los Angeles and at the Hollywood and Highland tourist complex that includes the Grauman's Chinese theater & cement footprints forecourt.

*Emotion- A particularly interesting film about another strange aspect of Hollywood for it's citizenry. The film starts off very up-beat and normal. Then it descends into some of the strangest, negative, and troubling revelations about the superhero performers private lives, previous jobs, and their life's hang-ups. This film is honest, raw, and maybe carefully contrived, so a certain amount of viewer's cynicism and apprehension makes this an effective film to connect with it's audience. This film makes you uncomfortable, but somehow wanting more about the film''s performer subjects.