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Hands On a Hard Body (1998)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:18
Fresh:15
Rotten:3
Average Rating:7.1/10
Runtime: 1 hr 38 mins
Genre: Education/General Interest
Synopsis: An stranger-than-fiction documentary about a Nissan dealership in Longview, Texas which has a contest every summer to give away a new truck. Whichever of the 24 contestants can stand the longest... An stranger-than-fiction documentary about a Nissan dealership in Longview, Texas which has a contest every summer to give away a new truck. Whichever of the 24 contestants can stand the longest with one hand on the truck (no leaning!) will drive home in it! While this may not sound like the most exciting premise for a documentary, you will be amazed how emotionally invested you become in the trials and tribulations of these interesting (and very funny) everyday people. With this film documenting the 1995 contest, you will come away wishing Bindler made a documentary about the contest every year. [More]
Director: S.R. Bindler
Director: S.R. Bindler
Reviews for Hands On a Hard Body
Tales of Texas don't get any weirder than true-tales of Texas, and Hands on a Hard Body joins the ranks of well-done, weird documentaries.
Bindler's ode to human dedication and endurance in the strangest of circumstances is a rough, unpolished gem of documentary filmmaking.
On the one hand, the Hands on a Hard Body contest seems a horrible exploitation of needy people as a publicity stunt to promote a car dealership; on the other, the film reveals an endearing piece of Americana.
These may not be people whom moviegoers think they want to spend time with, but this is accomplished documentary making, finding universal lessons in determination, struggle, planning, persistence and the relationship of mind and body.
It's absolutely fascinating watching what some people will subject themselves to for a free lunch.
The result is a quirky human interest story about the need for Texans to drive a pickup.
Far and away the most hysterical and engaging documentary since Spinal Tap, only this was for real.
It's engaging as a non-drama of people doing nothing, but suffering a lot.
Latest News for Hands On a Hard Body
September 02, 2009:
Hands on a Hard Body: The Musical ![]()
The 1997 documentary "Hands on a Hard Body," about a contest to see who can stand up and keep one hand on a truck the longest, is being turned into a stage musical. More...
November 23, 2006:
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Movie fans the world over were saddened to hear of the passing of filmmaker Robert Altman ... but what will become of the project the director was working on at the time of his... More...
October 06, 2006:
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In this week's Ketchup, Robert Downey Jr. finally gets cast as "Iron Man," and George Lucas discusses many things, including "Indiana Jones 4." More...
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