Famous in 31 Days

John Gerard

United States

• Save
• Share
• Trailer

Synopsis

Feeling unhappy at work and experiencing a midlife crisis, the film's subject quits his job and tries to become nationally recognizable in a month's time.

REVIEW

Was it inevitable that somebody would make a film that mixes the man-in-the-street interview techniques of Michael Moore with a touch of Sasha Baron Cohen's comic narcissism? Of course it was. Consider "Famous in 31 Days," in which our homegrown hero/documentary-maker, Syracuse television producer John Gerard, abandons his job, cashes in everything he has, hops into his car (decorated with enormous lettering that advertises his goal-and the film's title) and goes on a 31-day, cross-country trip, hoping to create so much publicity along the way that he'll end up a guest of Jay Leno and become an instant celebrity.

Does Gerard achieve his dream? Well, it's so fascinating to watch him try in this professionally made and occasionally poignant film that the end result hardly matters.

Energized by seeing his name-and his mission-up in lights right here at our own Palace Theatre, Gerard starts on the journey to his own destiny. (Warning to the faint of spirit: To achieve even this modicum of James Street fame, Gerard had to put those letters up on the marquee himself), First stop: Armory Square, where he learns he's not the hottie he'd like to be, but his chances with women will improve if he does become well-known. Next, on to New York City. There he discovers just how insignificant a person on a heroic quest can be to blasé Manhattanites. From the Big Apple we go to a touching family reunion on Long Island, and then cross country via Cleveland's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Field of Dreams from the movie of the same name, Denver, Las Vegas and finally Los Angeles.

On his road trip Gerard gets interviewed on some major regional television talk shows and meets and interviews Americans who, like him, are convinced that the key to 21st century happiness goes beyond a mere Warholian 15 minutes, to the immortality of major media exposure.

This film is often funny, and Gerard is his own delightful best subject: perky, charming, irrepressible and unwilling to let anything get in his way. It is also at times touching. He doesn't turn away from the personal losses that propelled him on his quest or hide the pain when success seems beyond his grasp. Above all, this is an extremely well made, fast-paced, oddball tribute to our national obsession with fame.

-David Feldman