James Bond is one of the most famous names in the world. The British secret agent debuted in the novel Casino Royale in 1953 and made his first on-screen appearance a little less than ten years later. The film franchise has gone on to become one of the most popular of all time, and the character has spawned comic books, video games, and an animated series. So, what is like when your real name is James Bond?
The Other Fellow is a documentary that looks at the lives of men who are saddled with one of the most well-known names in history. There are the obvious jokes about liking their drinks “shaken not stirred” and what their favorite number is, but there would not be much of a film if it was just about the comments the men had to deal with. Director Matthew Bauer starts by showing the unimpressive origins of the name. Author Ian Fleming simply wanted something plain sounding and used an ornithologist as his inspiration.
It is not very suave or sophisticated, which is the point Bauer is trying to make. The name “James Bond” may conjure up pictures of the quintessential alpha male, who is quick with a witty retort and always gets the girl, but in real life, it is nowhere near as glamourous. This includes stories of a Black man with the name who spent 60 days in jail for obstruction of justice and a gay man in New York who has managed to turn the name into a few television commercials.
The Other Fellow is not a deep dive into 007 and only works with what audiences already know. The documentary is about people with a famous name, not the name itself. It is a funny and sometimes dark look at image versus reality. Though Bauer does add to the mythos of the character in his own way Bond fans looking to learn more about the franchise will be disappointed.
The Other Fellow comes to theaters and VOD February 17
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