Hands on a Hard Body (1998)
Average Rating: 7.1/10
Reviews Counted: 19
Fresh: 16 | Rotten: 3
No consensus yet.
Average Rating: 6.8/10
Critic Reviews: 6
Fresh: 6 | Rotten: 0
No consensus yet.
liked it
Average Rating: 4.1/5
User Ratings: 970
Movie Info
This humorous documentary captures contestants in a 1995 competition held annually in a Longview, Texas, car dealership parking lot. A brand new Nissan pickup truck is the prize won by the person who can keep a gloved hand held against the truck for the longest period of time (with a 15-minute break every six hours and a five-minute break every hour). Six contestants drop out during the first 24 hours -- with only two contestants still standing by the 70th hour. With an event not far from the
Jul 10, 1998 Wide
Oct 18, 1999
Legacy Releasing Corporation
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All Critics (24) | Top Critics (9) | Fresh (16) | Rotten (3)
On the one hand, the Hands on a Hard Body contest seems a horrible exploitation of needy people as a publicity stunt to promote a car dealership; on the other, the film reveals an endearing piece of Americana.
Top CriticScrappy, likable, and immensely absorbing.
These may not be people whom moviegoers think they want to spend time with, but this is accomplished documentary making, finding universal lessons in determination, struggle, planning, persistence and the relationship of mind and body.
Bindler's attitude is absolutely right. He doesn't satirize: he observes, and leaves the satirical view as an option for us.
It's engaging as a non-drama of people doing nothing, but suffering a lot.
Tales of Texas don't get any weirder than true-tales of Texas, and Hands on a Hard Body joins the ranks of well-done, weird documentaries.
Bindler's ode to human dedication and endurance in the strangest of circumstances is a rough, unpolished gem of documentary filmmaking.
Far and away the most hysterical and engaging documentary since Spinal Tap, only this was for real.
One of the best documentaries ever made.
The result is a quirky human interest story about the need for Texans to drive a pickup.
It's absolutely fascinating watching what some people will subject themselves to for a free lunch.
Audience Reviews for Hands on a Hard Body
Super Reviewer
This is a great doc about a contest in Texas where the contestants need to remain standing with their hands on a Nissan truck until everyone else gives up or goes crazy. The filmmakers introduce you to this group of contestants individually and then follows them through the contest. What struck me most is the goodwill they had towards their competition while trying to outlast them. In today's world of reality TV it is almost expected that when you compete against someone you badmouth them, try and psych them out or just regard them as the enemy. This doc is certainly refreshing after all the crap competitions we see played before us on TV daily, and the people are a lot more relatable. Also, the way the filmmakers use the contest as a metaphor for life in general is great.
An excellent documentary. Now I got to get back to my gay porn.
Super Reviewer
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Most people who will admit they watch Fox Reality TV for the instant thrill of watching people suffer may find this is even more addictive, because the people slowly deteriorate while descending into delirium and madness. As you're comfortably sitting in your domicile watching these poor exhausted souls struggling to sleep on their feet without falling over for a truck, you might find yourself asking, "How long would I last?"