Customer Reviews

Diabetes for Guys: D-4-G a Guy Flick [VHS]

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1 star:		(2)

 

 

As a diabetes educator I was very excited to learn that the ADA was producing a video just for men about diabetes. When I first viewed it, I thought maybe I just didn't get the overdone slapstick humor so I had others at my institution review it. The general consensus is that the video is disjointed, in poor taste, and poorly filmed. And although it attempts to highlight the complications of poor control, it does very little to teach how to achieve good control. This is not a video that we will recommend!

I bought this video hoping that it would be both a humorous and educational tool to help adults understand the importance of managing diabetes. Unfortunately, it was neither. Although it is inspiring to see how well the creator of the film has turned around his life and gained control of his diabetes, this is overshadowed by the cheap attempts at humor. It is almost like you are watching a constant series of inside jokes that a group of buddy California actors are playing on each other. Also, the video quality looks like it was taken with a home camcorder.

The only educational point that is made is that being in control of your diabetes is important to avoiding detrimental complications. There is no attempt to explain the mechanics of diabetes, or the causes of the complications. Through a series of movie scene spoofs, the viewer follows an out of control junk food junkie through a series of mishaps caused because he isn't taking care of himself. The problem is that it just isn't funny, especially to a diabetic, to see someone suffering complications, even in jest.

I'm sure the creators of the video would argue that I am taking the video too seriously and that it is supposed to be a fun way at making an important point. Unfortunately, I think that it just comes off as a bunch of actor friends getting together to be funny without really thinking about the audience. I just can't think of an audience that would appreciate it.

Stephen Furst of Animal House fame and actor Stuart Pankin come together to star in this humorous, sarcastic, slapstick "guy" comedy. Diagnosed with diabetes at 17, Stephen led a reckless, obese life until he finally changed his ways. Based on his life, the video teaches a valuable lesson about proper diabetes care. Stephen narrates as Stuart Pankin mimics his buddy's former life as a 320-pound couch potato who gorges on pizza, beer, and junk food. Simple, hilarious vignettes recreated from films like Mission Impossible, Psycho, Austin Powers and other popular flicks parody Stephen's evil ways and demonstrate the point of good diabetes management in an exaggerated way, drawing Stuart into each of the plots. A must-see, "two thumbs up" video.

Using humor to appeal to guys not controlling their diabetes, is a good idea. These guys might dismiss regular information campaigns. Basing the story on a real person is an effective approach. Rather than telling Steven Furst's story in a traditional manner, this movie uses a series of movie spoofs to drive the point home to our main character.
Does this appeal to those who liked "Animal House", a movie I haven't seen? I find about half of American comedy to be un-funny, including, sadly, D-4-G. Most of the jokes fall flat, and can't lift this movie from its low production value.
The introduction, the Forrest Gump scenes, the stunts, and the outtakes are amusing, but the rest of this movie makes me cringe. How could this ever turn an out-of control diabetic around? I wouldn't show this to anybody.
Disclosure: I'm a Babylon 5 fan. My father is an in-control diabetic.

Audioworld.com "This humorous offering entertains and teaches with the universal language of laughter."