Review of American: The Bill Hicks Story (2010) by Rich G — 30 Sep 2010

I'll start with a confession: Yes, I am biased. Bill Hicks has always been one of my idols so I have been looking forward to this for some time, and when my shiny new Blu-ray arrived on the doormat I couldn't wait to watch it. And I wasn't disappointed; 'American' shows not only the man behind the legend, but also how he affected those closest to him; his family, friends and fellow comedians.

Bill wasn't just a comedian, although the majority of his material is gut wrenchingly funny; he was a philosopher and an optimist. He would drag you kicking and screaming down into the real world, destroying all that you believe to be the truth, then open your eyes into another world through an optimists eyes, a philosophers eyes. He made you think, which was his biggest gift to humanity. But it's not all roses; Bill was well known for both his drinking and his drug habits, and the movie shows how kicking them both finally turned him into the legend that we know and love. With unseen material and a brilliant form of animation the movie brings to life the Hicks legacy that has a much bigger impact than a talking heads documentary ever would.

Even now Bill's impact is felt on the modern world, with him regularly topping the comedians poll. Yes I've voted, and yes I've got every DVD, CD, t-shirt and book published with his name on it so I suppose you could call me biased!

Apart from being an eye opening philosophical stand up comedian, Bill Hicks was a preacher in every way except one: his faith was in humanity, not a God. This southern baptist raised main didn't deny his faith; he tried to open peoples eyes that there was a much quicker way to reach paradise.

After all, it's just a ride......