To start; I’m a known Blankie, and subsequently a big fan of Griffin Newman – so I’m inherently biased toward loving this movie. Fortunately, I’m “George Lucas”: A Connor Ratliff Story proves to be about more than just the live show that is at the center of the documentary. There is much to love in this film, from the many talking heads to the entertaining clips of the live performances. However, the sincerity of Ratliff and the throughline the filmmakers find make this slightly more than just an observation of the performances, and asks the central question many people ask about art: why do we create things? These are words Ratliff says at one point in the film that essentially sums up the exploration director Ryan Jacobi takes the audience on.
It’s been five years of performances where Connor Ratliff takes on the persona of the renowned filmmaker George Lucas, as he takes the stage in “The George Lucas Talk Show”, and now Ratliff finds himself questioning the need for its continuation. The film explores his drive for success, a word he struggles to define, and fulfillment in show business – something he almost gave up on after a devastating missed opportunity early in his career.
If you didn’t live in the New York area, then you probably never got to see “The George Lucas Talk Show” until it was forced to go online during the pandemic. Even after its shift to the online space, there is still a good chance you haven’t seen the show. The documentary will likely make you wish you’d had the chance to witness the performances live, as they seem like a lot of fun. All of the clips of their stage show make it seem like it would have been a blast to be a part of the audience. Star Wars fans and comedy fans could both take away a lot of fun from the experience. While all of these moments are great, it is the behind-the-scenes footage that paints the picture of Ratliff.
Ratliff willed this show into existence. There is a segment of the film that discusses Ratliff’s father, and his role in the local news and TV community that parallels nicely with Ratliff’s dedication to the show. He stays late and cleans up afterward. He books multiple performances that he’s rushing from one to another with no time to breathe. There is a love of performance that is truly inspiring. While Ratliff debates what his definition of success would be, it’s clear that he has found some degree of it with this show.
This film deserves a wealth of credit for its own ability to tell this story. The amount of access that Jacobi seems to have had implies a friendship with many of the people involved. Yet, the film feels like a very honest portrayal of what drives Ratliff to create this particular brand of comedy. His desire to perform is front and center, but the bigger question of why he bothers doing this show becomes the thematic throughline. One could pose that question about this documentary, then zoom out and ask it about this review.
We create for the hope that it delivers some amount of joy to some amount of people…that our expression of creativity and commentary makes someone’s life brighter for a moment. Identifying this idea and framing the film around it elevates this story in a way that will speak to many people. Ratliff’s story is an interesting one, but connecting it to this idea makes it an emotional film as well.
I’m “George Lucas”: A Connor Ratliff Story is worth your time. As stated, I was probably always going to enjoy this film, but I believe that I loved it because it’s genuinely well-made. There is something universal in Ratliff’s drive that the film taps into, and it truly spoke to me.
I’m “George Lucas”: A Connor Ratliff Story is currently playing at some festivals, so for updates on where to watch the film, visit their website here.
Rating: Not Quite Golden, Ponyboy
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