Supermensch: The Most Interesting Man in the World

Supermensch: The Legend of Shep Gordon is a documentary about one of the most interesting men you've never heard of. Correction: you've never heard of him if you're a regular person like me, but if you're a celebrity, he's probably your best friend. Here's a man who accidentally became Alice Cooper's manager at the age of 21 and helped launch multiple musical acts into stardom, produced independent movies that won awards at Cannes, created the whole concept of "celebrity chefs," and brewed yak tea for the Dalai Lama in his spare time. The Dos Equis guy has nothing on him.

The movie is directed by Mike Myers, who first met Shep on the set of Wayne's World. Shep helped Myers through a particular difficult time in his life (as is his wont) and the two became fast friends. Having spent so much time with Shep, Myers knew he wanted to make a movie filled with this man's crazy stories and the result is Supermensch. Featuring tales from the man himself as well as assorted celebrities and family members, the movie is a lighthearted and bewildering romp through one man's rather brilliant life.

In keeping with Shep's personality, the movie focuses on the positive and breezes past the more uncomfortable bits of his life. While Gordon seems like a genuinely lovely and caring person, some of his early tales contain excessive references to drugs, booze, and women to seem totally kosher. At one point, he refers to how he would struggle to make sure underage girls weren't caught in the vicinity of his clients, as that would make for terrible publicity. When Myers asks off-camera, "And because that would be wrong, right?" Shep laughs and says, "Oh yeah, it would be wrong too." It's a tad too casual to be comforting. Certainly, it seems like Shep's early career was fueled by ambition and the pursuit of success at all costs. He minted money and platinum records, but his personal life took a toll, and as he saw his friends dropping dead or checking into rehab, he decided it was time for a change.

This is heavy stuff, yet the tone of the movie always remains strangely upbeat, and it's difficult not to get swept up in the charm and warmth of the man. Now a Jewish Buddhist who is an excellent cook with a house in Maui that is the nexus of some of the most epic celebrity dinners of all time, Shep Gordon is clearly living a wonderful life. The only thing missing is a wife and kids, and everyone interviewed in the movie casually says how they hope Shep will settle down soon and have a baby. I would think you ought to have some qualms about hoping a nearly 70-year-old man would father a child, but Shep Gordon is capable of just about anything and who knows where the next chapter of his life will lead.

Mike Myers has collated some excellent archival footage and evocative music, and re-enacted Shep's stories in ingenious ways that make the movie very entertaining to watch. Rather than just listening to Shep tell his stories, you get to experience them vividly on screen, with all the highlighted absurdity. In 84 minutes, I was presented with a unique life that I loved learning about but would never want to emulate. So watch Supermensch and catch a glimpse of how the other half lives and what you have (not) been missing.