Confessions of a Superhero

[Stephen of Borg 2]

 

This is a documentary that follows Maxwell Allen, Christopher Dennis, Jennifer Gerht and Joseph McQueen. These four people dress as the superheroes (in order of names) Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman and the Incredible Hulk on Hollywood Boulevard, taking pics with the tourists. This is their career of choice as they see it as their best chance of making it to movies, which some have done in independent films.

 

The film explores what it’s like being superheroes on the street, as they take tips for pictures. Some go about it more aggressively, even ending up getting arrested for “aggressive begging”. The movie also goes into the personal lives of the four interviewed.

 

Christopher Dennis (a Christopher Reeve look-a-like) is the veteran street performer out of the four, having played Superman on the streets for years. It shows his home and his huge Superman collection. He says that he is the son of the late actress Sandy Dennis, but it is never truly proven whether that is fact or fiction. Sandy’s relatives are interviewed in the movie, but they have no knowledge of Chris. It is still a possibility that he is in fact her son, because she was a private person, but in the end you just have to make your own decision. It doesn’t really matter anyway, because Chris is a real nice guy and it shows the entire film.

 

Maxwell Allen (a George Clooney look-a-like) got into the “superhero” business by becoming friends with Christopher Dennis. He has an interesting story, which has a dark past. Whether you can believe most of what he says as fact is another thing that is up for questioning. The things that he says, even his wife doesn’t 100% believe. Such as how he has killed a man who hurt his ex, but you won’t find evidence because he was able to make a great cover up.

 

Joseph McQueen walks the streets as the Incredible Hulk. He has it worst of all since he is in foam, even blacking out while working due to the 106 degree heat. Jennifer Gerht is a beautiful woman that got into this so that she could be famous in Hollywood. This lifestyle seems to effect her most of all, even costing her a marriage by the end.

 

Call it pan handling. Call it street performing. Call it anything you want. By the end of the movie, you will love these people anyway. They are just normal people who have chosen this as a job and have succeeded in some ways at making their dream come true. “Confessions of a Superhero” never makes fun of these and that is part of the charm.

 

 

Maxwell “Batman” Allen Not In Pic

[Kor37 9]

I ran into people like this when I visited Hollywood a few years ago. IMO, they are merely panhandlers in costume. Some of them really get aggressive and in your face about getting a pic taken with them. Most of the costumes look ludicrous. They remind you more of costumes you get at a drug store for Halloween rather than a good quality costume.

[Stephen of Borg 2]

for those that are interested. It's worth checking out