Shep Gordon is probably one of the most legendary men in Hollywood that you’ve never heard of. His work as a talent manager brought rocker Alice Cooper to stardom, as well as the likes of Blondie, Luther Vandross, and Raquel Welch. Not only is Gordon a natural businessman, but his infectious humor and genuine personality made him a friend of celebrities all over the world. From partying on the Sunset Strip to meditating with the Dali Lama, Shep Gordon has seen and done it all, making for a wild life story. Now, in funny man Mike Myers’ (Austin Powers) directorial film debut, he turns the camera on one of the industry’s most respected and insightful figures in the hilariously moving documentary SUPERMENSCH: The Legend of Shep Gordon.
A “Mensch” is the Yiddish term for a person of integrity, and that’s exactly what Shep is- only more “Super.” Shep recalls the moment his career took off in 1968; less than 24 hours after moving to Los Angeles, Shep finds himself staying at a hotel in the heart of Hollywood. He hears the screams of a woman, high pitched and loud, and thinking she is being attacked, Shep runs from his room down to the pool where he sees two people rough housing… or so he thinks. Turns out, it’s Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin, and they weren’t fighting (if you catch my drift). Joplin then punches Shep in the face for disturbing her and Hendrix. After clearing up the miscommunication, Hendrix and Joplin welcome Shep to LA with open arms, giving him the idea to go into talent management. The rest is Hollywood history that only the glamorous city could write.
Stories like these are just the beginning of the documentary’s entertaining journey. Mike Myers’ ability to capture Shep’s essence on screen is reinforced with interviews from his famous friends, including Alice Cooper, Michael Douglas, Sylvester Stallone, Willie Nelson, Anne Murray, Chef Emeril Lagasse and many more.
Supermensch plays more like a tribute film than an observational one, so what it lacks in depth, it makes up for in light-heartedness and simplicity.
Kudos to Myers for creating an engaging story with eclectic antidotes while still keeping a singular narrative. The film remains cohesive throughout its entire 80-minute runtime. Because of pop-culture societies’ overwhelming affection towards Shep, Supermensch plays more like a tribute film than an observational one, so what it lacks in depth, it makes up for in light-heartedness and simplicity.
With his Larry David resemblance, Shep is described as a “compassionate motherf**ker,” who has remained grounded since the beginning of his career. Myers shows the glitz, and Shep talks about the glamor, but deep down we discover what really drives Shep: family, or rather, the pursuit of one. Even today in his old age, he still wants a biological child. It’s heartbreaking to see a man who so seemingly has it all, except for the only thing that really matters: unconditional familial love.
However, Shep himself is the first one to say he still considers himself lucky. A particularly memorable quote is expressed towards the end of the film; reflecting on his life thus far Shep reminds himself, “Be careful what you complain about when you’re damn lucky.”
Even if they’re not biological, Shep Gordon has certainly made a family out of his A-list friends. This is a man very deserving of a documentary and Mike Myers does a great job of bringing Shep’s story to life in a truly entertaining and informative way. It’s lighthearted, funny, and just the right amount of wrong to make for one memorable movie and life of Hollywood’s beloved super-mensch.
