Winnebago Man
Winnebago Man
NR | 09 July 2010 (USA)
Winnebago Man Trailers

Jack Rebney is the most famous man you've never heard of - after cursing his way through a Winnebago sales video, Rebney's outrageously funny outtakes became an underground sensation and made him an internet superstar. Filmmaker Ben Steinbauer journeys to the top of a mountain to find the recluse who unwittingly became the "Winnebago Man".

Reviews
gavin6942

Jack Rebney is the most famous man you have never heard of - after cursing his way through a Winnebago sales video, Rebney's outrageously funny outtakes became an underground sensation and made him an internet superstar.I confess that I was not aware of Jack Rebney or the "Winnebago Man" clips from YouTube. Of all the memes out there, this one somehow escaped me. But that in no way lessened my enjoyment of this film, because it was only partially about Rebney and more about Internet infamy, and the lives of those who have been shamed on the Internet. (Though, luckily for Jack, he was more honored than shamed.) I would have liked to know more about "Star Wars Kid", but that could easily spin off to be its own documentary, and possibly a far more fascinating one.

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Hellmant

'WINNEBAGO MAN': Four Stars (Out of Five) A documentary exploring 'viral stardom' (sudden internet fame by accident) focusing on one man, Jack Rebney, and how it's affected his life. The film is co-written and directed by documentary filmmaker Ben Steinbauer, in his feature film debut. Steinbauer's past experience has been in the camera department on other films and he's directed two short films as well. He sets out, with no real plan, to find this man, Rebney, who was made famous by the internet in hopes of finding out who he really is and how he feels about his 'youtube' fame. Once he finds him he sort of aimlessly records video of him in an attempt to get him to open up to the camera, desperately hoping there's a story worth telling.Rebney is a former CBS news broadcaster who quit when he got fed up with what he believes was the decay of the network. He later took a job on an RV commercial for Winnebago and was fired after a video of him circulated to his employers, by angry co-workers, of him constantly becoming frustrated on the shoot and swearing repeatedly in colorful ways. Copied VHS tapes of the video circulated to the public and Rebney became notorious for them, which later made their way onto the internet, specifically youtube, and made Rebney a star infamously known as the 'Winnebago Man' and 'The Angriest Man in the World.' When Steinbauer finds Rebney he's calm and living a peaceful life in a secluded mountain home in California. Steinbauer leaves and after some time passes Rebney begins contacting him and admits to putting on a show for him and is actually upset about the youtube video. When the director returns he finds Rebney blind and wanting to leave the world with a better reputation and has a lot to say.The film is extremely funny as well as touching, a tearjerker in ways. Jack Rebney is a fascinating and lovable character who is extremely intelligent, honest and full of colorful dialog. When he really has something important to say he's often cut off by the director though who says no one wants to hear it (I wanted to hear it though and I'm sure others would as well). Steinbauer insists that he needs to open up more and talk about himself when in fact anything he has to say is interesting and entertaining. The film works despite it's flaws because of Jack Rebney and his performance. It could have been so much more though at the hands of a more talented director.Watch our review show 'MOVIE TALK' at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ntCQhhQwsc

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Peter Hanson

For many years, I've been entertained by the video I know as "The Angriest Man in the World," featuring a frustrated Winnebago salesman melting down during the hot summertime shoot for a promotional film. Originally distributed via VHS swaps and later disseminated on YouTube, the video comprising obscenity-laden out-takes is filled with quotable dialogue and deliriously funny meltdowns. When I had the pleasure of catching this doc about the video and its star during a sneak last night in LA, I expected little more than a quick and pithy revelation of the man behind the mad. However I was thrilled to discover a thoughtful, provocative, and even quite moving study of what it means to become an unintentional celebrity. The narrative surprises of this film are better discovered than discussed, but suffice it to say that Ben Steinbauer's utterly compelling and utterly hilarious doc should shoot to the top of your must- see list if it hits a festival near you. And while the movie provides unadulterated joy for those who have already joined the cult of Jack Rebney -- the Winnebago Man himself -- I'm confident that anyone interested in serious explorations of pop culture will be fascinated.

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timerrill

Alright, here we go: this is one of the best documentaries I've ever seen, on any subject. It's not only for members of the Cult of Rebney (in case you live under a g--damn rock, I'm talking about Jack Rebney: the Winnebago Man, the Angriest Man in the World, the original viral video star, and the greatest swearer who ever lived).The film has comedy: Rebney is one of the great crotchety old men of all time.It has mystery: who is this monumental man, where does he live, what's the deal with his anger, what the f--k is this thing? It has commentary: most Americans have "room-temperature IQs," the Ford Fiesta (or is it Festiva?) is a great car, and Bush-Cheney-Rumseld-Rove all deserve hot pokers up their a--es. It also has flies, towels, windshields, seat belts, yelling, doors slamming, s--t hitting the fan, all types of "accoutrama"...and, last but not least, Tony! (If you have no clue what any of this means, go to YouTube and search "winnebago man.") See this film ASAP, ya g--damn jackass. Or you can put it up your fern, if you want to.NO MORE!

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