America Unchained (2004)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Directors:

Andy Devonshire
Stef. Wagstaffe

Writer:

Dave Gorman (writer)

Release Date:

5 February 2008 (UK)

Genre:

Documentary

Cast

Dave Gorman	...	Himself
Stef. Wagstaffe	...	Herself
Andy Devonshire	...	Himself

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Company:

Avalon Television

Pointless, USA

Realising that Morgan Spurlock and others are stealing his act, 'stunt comedian' Dave Gorman attempts to break into the lucrative documentary market by travelling coast-to-coast USA without utilising corporate amenities and services, euphemised as 'The Man'. Frankly, whoever commissioned or bought this project didn't think through the fact that petrol (gas), amongst other things, can only be refined and distributed by 'The Man', it's relatively inconsequential that it is sold to you by an independent outlet. In fact, at one point, whilst engrossed in his rose-tinted homage to 'Mom and Pop', Gorman's wreck breaks down and is saved by a garage run by 'The Man'. Game over.

Acknowledging that the whole concept is a more than just a little dull and deeply flawed, Gorman decides to spice things up by trying to visit places whose names embody the American spirit, such a towns named err…'Spirit' and 'Independence', therefore conveniently elongating the entire journey in a bid to add some drama. In fact, even his producer/camera-person, Stef Wagstaffe, awakened to the fact that she was engaged in career suicide, leaves the movie half way through, never to return. This leaves Dave to indulge in a fast food binge in a town called Moab, courtesy of (guess who?) 'The Man'. Combined with the stark realisation, that along with his drive thru dinner, this venture was heading down the toilet (in true Spurlock style), Gorman still continues his pointless and failed quest, with only the occasional hint of the slowly disappearing human story that lines the modern day U.S highway.

There are simply too many anguished in-car shots of Gorman driving around the U.S heartlands in search of fuel to make this remotely interesting. The last quarter of the film whimpers to a conclusion leaving you, like Gorman's unused spare fuel tanks, feeling empty and only mildly diverted.

Gorman is neither big enough stateside or American for any nostalgic observation to be meaningful nor is the subject matter that close to the hearts of his other audience in the U.K. Therefore, you have to ask the question; What was the point?