Customer Reviews

Hands on a Hard Body [VHS]

5 star:		(33)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Most of the previous reviews describe HOAHB as a sort of a farce. Though it certainly does have comic moments, some intended and others not, it is not a comedy. It is easy for the typical documentary viewer (i.e. educated, middle class or better, often urban) to laugh AT the participants. And sure enough, none of them would seem out of place in a "Waiting for Guffman"-type mockumentary. Those who approach it this way, however, miss the true richness of the video.

The goal of the directors, achieved brilliantly, was not to portray the participants as a bunch of wacko hicks and their pursuit of the truck as absurd. What they want us to see and what the participants articulate so eloquently (often in spite of themselves) is the universality of the human experience. These folks in Longview, TX, are willing to push themselves to the limits of physical and psychological tolerance for a chance to win a truck. A brilliant medical student works grueling 100-hour weeks in pursuit of her ultimate goal. What's the difference? As the quote at the beginning of the video states, it's the journey and not the destination that is the true experience.

One of the most fascinating and moving parts of the documentary is when the participants explain what a new truck would mean to them. Nobody is doing it just for the hell of it. Whether the cause is material need, spiritual communion, or the "thrill of victory and the agony of defeat," the truck is their Holy Grail and their quest to win it worthy of Greek myth. Two previous contestants say that it was the best experience of their lives. A powerful idea.

What would be this important to you? It may not be the chance to win a truck, but all of us would be willing to push ourselves to the limit for something, someone, or some experience. How far would you go? How would you get there? How would you be changed by the journey? That's what this video is about. The laughs are a bonus.

Mid-level production values, top-tier story. A very telling and moving look into a contest that legitmately opens up the human soul. Different people, different backgrouds, all with some individual desire. That the contest is over a pickup truck is humorous at first but ultimately irrelevant (however, I'm not sure I would have even watched it if it were about anything less absurd). Instead you have a half-dozen people who are entirely ordinarily and uniquely determined. Any viewer has to come out of this a little humbled at the winners and with a better sense of the real depth of all the strangers on the world.

Never in my life had I laughed as hard as I did when I first saw this movie. I saw it at the Dobie Theatre in Austin, Texas, where it has been playing now for about one and a half years. The reason this movie is still playing there is because it never gets old. I love getting new friends to watch this movie because they always love it as much as I do. Everyone I've shown this movie to (about 20 people)has nearly died of laughter. Even when I was watching it by myself for the upteenth time I swear that I laughed just as hard as I did the first time. I am almost sure that everyone will love this movie. I am going to give this movie as a gift to my friends in New England and Oregon, because I feel that this movie needs to get more noteriety and needs to spread everywhere. If every person in this country could see this movie then it would be a much happier place.

I love my people. This film is a pure slice of Texas at our best (some may say our worst). Round up a bunch of East Texans and put the hope of a free truck in their hearts -- then just sit back and watch. Hysterical. Truly hysterical. And I am pretty sure that even those not blessed to be from Texas will appreciate the humor. If not, at least you will enjoy sitting back and laughing at this great cast of real-life characters. Now, I sure could use an orange or a Snickers . . .

At first one might think that "Hands on A Hardbody" might be the title of an adult video to get you in the mood...but really it's the true life story of 23 contestants who are vying for the keys to an ordinary Nissan pickup. The film starts with an experienced contestant and former winner, Benny, talking about what it takes to be a winner of this contest. It moves on and gives a little background information on each contestant through interviews conducted prior to the event. During the contest we see these people stand around this truck for hours and get insight into who these contestants really are. Among the most colorful contestants are Janice...a toothless woman(yes toothles...)with an air conditioner in her house that can cool the place down to 12 degrees below zero, Norma... a very religous lady with the special gift of laughter, and a fast slurring Karnack, Texas local who decides to feast off of Snickers and Oranges in order to maintain the strength that it takes to stay in the race. Hours and hours of footage was shot and we see only 2 of around 90. One can imagine what we didn't see. This film is truly a comedy,the people are real and these people have no idea how funny they really are. You will be entertained all the way through as you root for your favorite. After watching the footage..you tune in again just to laugh and have a great time. Produced by Matthew McConaughey, Longview native himself, this film makes you wonder how we must look to others...

Check it out... You'll be glad you did.

Although I can quote the entire documentary, words to describe this intense, comical, touching -- and most importantly real piece of cinematography escape me. Each time I watch Hands on a Hardbody, I come away with a better understanding of two classic struggles in nature - man versus man and man versus himself. Hands on a Hardbody is a journey that explores complex human relations through humbleness - the humbleness of the participants and of their desire to win a Nissan Hardbody Pickup.

Hands on a Hardbody uses the ruse of comedy to display what one participant and past winner adeptly describes as "A human drama thing".

I strongly recommend this documentary.

I've seen this film at Dobie about 4 times now. I love taking someone to see it just to watch their reaction as the movie progresses. HOAHB presents a cross section of East Texas better than if you were to visit the region in person. As a result of the film, the contest enters the Quirky Texas Folklore category along with Ralph the Swimming Pig, Marvin Zindler, Hippie Hollow, and Big Hair: not necessarily the most cerebral or refiined institutions in Texas Culture -- but near and dear nonetheless. Hands on a Hardbody is a classic for everyone and an absolute for Texans. If you're in Austin, see it in Dobie Theatre for a more intimate and decorative experience. Then, get it on DVD or Tape to watch again and to show your friends!

Before I saw 'Hands on' in summer of '98, I wouldn't have believed it could be so compelling. Having grown up in Longview, the setting of the contest, I worried about laughing at my hometown folks. Well, I did start out laughing at these people, but ended up being emotionally invested in their successes and failures. I left the theater thinking, 'I have to own this.' 'Hands on' has been running for over a year here in Austin and I've seen in 3 times. To quote the movie, 'it's a human drama thing.'

Okay, I admit...I'm a sucker for documentaries. Give me a documentary anyday over what passes for 'reality' on television. I love the raw quality of docs and the emotion of the people in them. "Hands on a Hard Body" is a little gem of a movie. Sure it was cheaply made and many of the camera shots are rough, but the people in this little film are amazing! And hilarious. I certainly don't mean to poke fun at them because I think their honest-to-goodness need and desire to win a truck is so real and touching. I love how some of them trained for the contest (by eating "energy" food like oranges and 'snickie' bars) and the side stories that transpire throughout the film. It's funny, it's touching, it's a little bit sad, but I loved it. "Hands on a Hard Body" is reality! Check it out at your local video store. I think you'll be glad you did.

I saw this film recently at the Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival. It was the hit of the show. The audience, including me, was in hysterics for much of the film. Now, this could have something to do with the fact that we Arkansans just love to laugh at Texans (and this film gives us plenty of fodder!), but it was much more than that of course. It was truly an extremely funny, and touching, film. By the end you have come to feel so much empathy for these people that you hate to see any of them drop out. A wonderful subject for a documentary film and a masterful job by the director.