Air Guitar Nation

Air Guitar Nation
Studio: Shadow Distribution
Rated: R
Cast: David S. Jung, Dan Crane
Director: Alexandra Lipsitz
WorkNameSort: Air Guitar Nation
Our Rating: 3.50
Too many documentaries get their energy from uncovering misdeeds and shining a light on injustice. Rare is the doc that exposes a subculture whose members, though odd, appear to be having fun on this increasingly sad planet. Everyone knows (or is) an air guitarist, but the existence of a world championship for invisible-ax players seems largely unthinkable. That the event is not only taken seriously by its contestants, but is also surprisingly devoid of irony, makes Air Guitar Nation excellently enjoyable. Tracking two rival U.S. air guitarists, C-Diddy and Bjorn Turoque, on their quest to be the first American entrants and ultimately the world champions, the film effectively gets itself past the intrinsic ridiculousness and winds up engaging us in the goings-on of the World Air Guitar Championships in Finland. It’s not the most thought-provoking doc, but it will stick in your mind.

This article appears in May 2-8, 2007.