Committed to the Insane

I watch documentaries.

The one I watched this weekend was about the International Air Guitar Championship. It is a recent event for USA participation but has been an annual event in Finland for years. The film followed contestants in the Eastern US Division and then followed the winner of that contest as he competed in the Western US Division for the US title.

The winner of the Eastern US Division had an appearance on the Jimmy Kimmel show and the runner up appeared on the Carson Daly show. The runner up pressured Carson into sending him to the Western US Division to get another chance.

The winner of the Eastern won again at the Western and therefore was going to represent the United States in Finland.

Then the runner up created a website to collect sponsors to send him to Finland for yet another chance.

The pivotal point in the docu-drama is when the camera catches the US winner's expression when the runner up gets off the ferry in Finland. The US winner suavely notes the runner up's "earnestness".

At this point I actually cared.

I found myself rooting for the winner because of the tactless, sour grape travels of the runner up. The participants are judged on their musicality, originality and commitment.

These are men in their 20's who have been indulged as children. They are supported by parents who hold professional positions and blindly expected their offspring to follow their example. The air guitarists think it reasonable that others are financing their fancies.

The US representative totally threw himself into his performance for a world title and won. The gatecrasher did not place.

I guess if you are going to hold the world title of "Number One Air Guitarist" you need to commit.

I do not recommend renting this DVD because right in the middle of the contest there is a performer who's commitment to novelty involves no clothes. Help me, Jesus!