Review of Air Guitar Nation (2006) by Gareth M — 07 Oct 2007

Air Guitar Nation is one of those special documentaries that manages to be there at just the right time to capture a great story. It doesn't feel forced, yet it plays out a bit like a generic feature about an underdog sports team without the cheesiness.

At first it's as strange as it sounds - a documentary about air guitar competitions. It doesn't take long, however, before you forget that these guys aren't just pretending to be rock stars and see it for what it is: a performance just like any other. Each air rocker has a created character and routine, one that rarely reflects the real person, and is there to entertain.

The film starts with the East Coast Finals, from which the champion will compete against the West Coast champion to become America's first representative at the international Air Guitar championship in Finland. The two main competitors are C-Diddy, the son of Korean immigrants with an acting background who appears on stage in a red kimono and a 'Hello Kitty' breastplate, and the more straight laced Bjorn Turoque (get it?), who is an experienced guitar player.

After C-Diddy's close victory, he appeared on the Jimmy Kimmel show before heading over to compete on the East coast. Bjorn Turoque, however, could not accept his defeat and, after appearing on the Carson Daly show, convinced Daly to sponser him to compete in the East Coast finals as well. This sets in motion a rivalry that continues through the L.A. based finals (with its own colourful collection of rockers including a wheelchair bound Christian rocker) and to the international finals in Finland, where the less gimmicky air guitarists look to put Bjorn ahead of C-Diddy in terms of style.

Everyone at the advance viewing had their favourite to win, either Bjorn or C-Diddy. Both were immensly likeable from their beginnings being humoured by U.S. audiences through to the lofty expectations in Finland and it's impossible not to barrack for them come the final hour, particarly when the intimidating international stars make their appearance (nice slow motion hero shot, of course).

Although the premise will put many people of seeing this small gem in the years doco stakes, it generates has much interest and excitement as the average studio blockbuster with the bonus of real heart behind the characters. The slick editing and rocking soundtrack ensure that there's never a dull moment and the build up towards the finale show is a genuine edge-of-the-seat moment complete with satisfactory pay-off when C-Diddy rocks into his chosen song.

If there is any criticism to be had with this film it's that the under 90 minute running time felt a bit short when you feel that you could get to know the other international finalists a little better. An interview with the UK's The Red Plectum is interesting, but very little time is devoted to the Australian and New Zealand representatives who seem to be the greatest threat to C-Diddy and Bjorn Turoque chance at victory.

But in short: rocking.