Getting Go- The Go Doc Project-2013
Director Cory Krueckeberg
Starring Tanner Cohen, Matthew Camp
Scott’s Review #250
Reviewed June 23, 2015
Grade: C
Getting Go- The Go Doc Project (2013) is a small-budget documentary that focuses on a shy, awkwardly gay college student named Doc, who is completing his thesis project by filming a documentary surrounding an online crush he has developed, via porn, on a New York City exotic dancer named Go.
When Doc finally contacts Go and inevitably meets him, the filming of Go’s life begins. From this point a relationship forms, but at what price and what will the turnabout be?
The film is okay but is surprisingly dull as it develops and begins to quickly drag towards the predictable conclusion.
The underlying themes of this documentary are loneliness and obsession from two differing perspectives. Doc, the boring, lonely college student is enamored by the gorgeous, buff, seemingly independent Go.
As the two get to know each other, more is revealed about Go, his life past and present, his hopes, dreams, and fears. Doc is also psychologically explored and the two form an unlikely bond.
The film succeeds in teaching the audience that there is more to a dancer than his body and more to a nerd than his brain. Both are complex individuals.
The first half of the feature is fairly interesting. The initial courage that Doc musters up to contact and ultimately meet Go is admirable and I enjoyed seeing what transpired next.
Will Go be receptive to Doc or callously treat him as another enamored gay man?
When Go agrees to be filmed and his life story is slowly revealed, I feel sympathy for him and am intrigued to learn more about him.
What was his family life like? Was he abused or victimized as a child, I wondered?
Getting Go- The Go Doc Project loosely explores matters like this, though no supporting characters are introduced. Go and Doc and their budding relationship are the only focus.
The film then plods for the final forty-five minutes with an uninteresting love story that is fairly lacking in the suspense department. Are we to believe the pair will live happily ever after? Not a chance.
Unfortunately, the acting is not great either, especially on the part of Go, played by Matthew Camp. Tanner Cohen is a bit better and the more interesting character of the two, with more depth. He is not comfortable with himself, his body, or even with being gay.
However, at this age (early twenties) one wonders if the character would even be comfortable with girls had he been made to be straight.
The main problem with the film is that the two are mismatched. Even though they develop a fondness for each other, the audience is aware that this will not last.
Props to the filmmakers for trying something a bit different. In the end, Getting Go- The Go Doc Project (2013) starts well, meanders, and ultimately stalls, but tries hard to present a different type of story and that is not so bad.