DVD Review – The Sophisticated Misfit (A Doc about the artist SHAG)

Usually my mail box is only filled with credit card offers, bills and hate mail, but today I had a pleasant surprise and had to make a critical decision. Since any decision involved a vodka tonic, it wasn’t too hard. Do I; 1) Read my new issue of Funny Times 2) Watch ‘Tales of a Rat Fink’ (Ed Roth Doc)’ 3) or Watch the Shag Doc? (Yes, I received all 3 on the same day!) I decided to watch the Shag doc. Though probably not one of the best produced or directed doc’s I have ever seen, it was chucked full of celebrities who collect his art like comedians Whoopi Goldberg and Oswald Patton. It also had several of Shag’s friends and family members, like Paul Frank (who is extremely odd). If there was anything I did not like about the DOC it was the constant praise and references to his originality. I love SHAG’s work, very cartoonish and tongue and cheek, but it is NOT original, except in the sense that NO ONE else from this ERA is doing that type of work. I will say it was refreshing to see a doc about a living breathing artist that has done well for himself, and like my hero Ed Roth, he is a Morman. Don’t worry, I won’t be converting anytime soon.