I'm with Jack Rebney -- I simply don't understand people's fascination with those over-hyped (yet admittedly entertaining) outtakes to the Winnebago marketing videos he hosted, back in 1989; footage which has gone onto attain popularity among certain circles and that made Rebney, much to his chagrin (supposedly), a cultural icon of sorts. But then, nowadays millions of folks are easily amused by countless, mindless viral videos; a phenomenon which to me is beyond reason also, but I somewhat digress.
Circa 2007, director and Rebney-fan Ben Steinbauer felt the need to seek out the subject of this documentary. Steinbauer's search ultimately led him, not to a cosmically ironic trailer park, but to a secluded shack nestled somewhere in the northern California boondocks. It was here Steinbauer discovered the one-time infomercial legend living the life of a recluse...with not one RV in sight, I might add.
At the time WINNEBAGO MAN was made, Rebney was in his high seventies. Apparently, he had no idea just how famous he had become for appearing in these iconic video clips until he was informed of the craze by Steinbauer. (Really?) As much as Rebney says he wants to be left alone, he welcomes repeated visits by the camera-toting filmmaker. Despite his claim of not wanting an audience, Rebney agrees to make an appearance at a San Francisco film festival, where he is treated as a celebrity and looked up to as an idol.
As cantankerous as Rebney is, he seems a likable fellow, as one gets the sense of a soft heart beneath that crusty, gruff exterior. You would have thought, however, that time spent living as a solitary in a peaceful wooded oasis would have brought some serenity to Mr. Rebney but lo and behold if Steinbauer doesn't find the same old cranky character as the one from those aforementioned outtakes.
The aged Rebney feels the need to want to express himself, but what exactly does he wish to impart to the world? The director tries to get the codger to open up a little but Rebney resists, a couple times practically telling BS to go take a hike. One question I would have asked Rebney is, if he disliked making those Winnebago videos so much, why he didn't just quit? Perhaps masochists come in different forms.
Here and there Rebney hints at wanting to speak about his political views but, disappointingly, the interviewer doesn't seem the least bit interested in this, despite it obviously being of utmost importance to the film's subject.
WINNEBAGO MAN feels as if it's composed of three parts: There's the first half-hour, which deals with the Jack Rebney of the film's title; the next half-hour, that focuses on a three-dimensional Rebney living as it were the life of Thoreau's "Walden"; and the final thirty minutes or so, which leads up to Rebney making a special guest appearance at said film festival. I enjoyed the second of these three 'parts' the most and as such would have preferred hearing more from Rebney's inner man, his contemplative elder side. Unfortunately, Steinbauer doesn't allow for this. A shame, since for me Rebney is far more interesting as someone who's said to have written a manuscript on religion and politics than the one-dimensional self-caricature so loved by his adoring fans. Indeed, I think the point Jack Rebney tries to make here is how much he would like to be taken seriously.
In the end, Jack Rebney is most known and liked for his excessive use of coarse language. But surely there's got to be more to it than that. After all, it takes no talent and zero originality to be able to swear (profusely). That said, it almost goes without saying that, for a cracker-barrel philosopher, Rebney's active vocabulary is rather limited.
Then again, maybe all that his fans want is to be tickled and not to have to think too much. Rebney as 'the Winnebago Man' was a notorious grouch and yet isn't it funny that, by this very act of being overly and perennially miserable, he's managed to bring smiles and giggles to many who've seen these outtakes. Here's one sourpuss who, far from being a downer, has inadvertently brought cheer to others. My guess is, not too many curmudgeons possess the natural charm to be able to pull that off.
Circa 2007, director and Rebney-fan Ben Steinbauer felt the need to seek out the subject of this documentary. Steinbauer's search ultimately led him, not to a cosmically ironic trailer park, but to a secluded shack nestled somewhere in the northern California boondocks. It was here Steinbauer discovered the one-time infomercial legend living the life of a recluse...with not one RV in sight, I might add.
At the time WINNEBAGO MAN was made, Rebney was in his high seventies. Apparently, he had no idea just how famous he had become for appearing in these iconic video clips until he was informed of the craze by Steinbauer. (Really?) As much as Rebney says he wants to be left alone, he welcomes repeated visits by the camera-toting filmmaker. Despite his claim of not wanting an audience, Rebney agrees to make an appearance at a San Francisco film festival, where he is treated as a celebrity and looked up to as an idol.
As cantankerous as Rebney is, he seems a likable fellow, as one gets the sense of a soft heart beneath that crusty, gruff exterior. You would have thought, however, that time spent living as a solitary in a peaceful wooded oasis would have brought some serenity to Mr. Rebney but lo and behold if Steinbauer doesn't find the same old cranky character as the one from those aforementioned outtakes.
The aged Rebney feels the need to want to express himself, but what exactly does he wish to impart to the world? The director tries to get the codger to open up a little but Rebney resists, a couple times practically telling BS to go take a hike. One question I would have asked Rebney is, if he disliked making those Winnebago videos so much, why he didn't just quit? Perhaps masochists come in different forms.
Here and there Rebney hints at wanting to speak about his political views but, disappointingly, the interviewer doesn't seem the least bit interested in this, despite it obviously being of utmost importance to the film's subject.
WINNEBAGO MAN feels as if it's composed of three parts: There's the first half-hour, which deals with the Jack Rebney of the film's title; the next half-hour, that focuses on a three-dimensional Rebney living as it were the life of Thoreau's "Walden"; and the final thirty minutes or so, which leads up to Rebney making a special guest appearance at said film festival. I enjoyed the second of these three 'parts' the most and as such would have preferred hearing more from Rebney's inner man, his contemplative elder side. Unfortunately, Steinbauer doesn't allow for this. A shame, since for me Rebney is far more interesting as someone who's said to have written a manuscript on religion and politics than the one-dimensional self-caricature so loved by his adoring fans. Indeed, I think the point Jack Rebney tries to make here is how much he would like to be taken seriously.
In the end, Jack Rebney is most known and liked for his excessive use of coarse language. But surely there's got to be more to it than that. After all, it takes no talent and zero originality to be able to swear (profusely). That said, it almost goes without saying that, for a cracker-barrel philosopher, Rebney's active vocabulary is rather limited.
Then again, maybe all that his fans want is to be tickled and not to have to think too much. Rebney as 'the Winnebago Man' was a notorious grouch and yet isn't it funny that, by this very act of being overly and perennially miserable, he's managed to bring smiles and giggles to many who've seen these outtakes. Here's one sourpuss who, far from being a downer, has inadvertently brought cheer to others. My guess is, not too many curmudgeons possess the natural charm to be able to pull that off.