Hands on a Hard Body

Reviewed by: Glendajean

June 3, 1999

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I also saw this week the documentary "Hands on a Hard Body," Despsite sounding like a porno flick, the film is about a Longview, Texas contest at the local Nissan dealership where contestants put their hands on a pick-up truck, and except for hourly 5 minute breaks, must continue to do so without sitting, squatting or leaning forward.

Most of the characters, and believe me, that's what most of them are, are quite sweet, and the director (I can't remember name) focuses on their humaness without any visible effort. Think of the mocumentary "Waiting for Guffman" toned down a bit.

The main characters include a previous winner -- a guy in a black hat who revels in making observations about life and the silly sport of holding one's hand on a pick-up truck for up to 80 hours or so. There's a couple of young achievers, the usual dreamers who long for a ticket out of dreariness, and a pentecostal woman who listens to praise tapes and is subject to extended bouts of laughing in the Spirit. As a native Texan, reminds me again of friends and relatives growing up in a place that was pretty much cut off from outsiders until about 20 years ago or so.