Billy Flanigan: The Happiest Man on Earth

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micah b I love finding new Documentaries to watch and I had high hopes after seeing the reviews for this one, but honestly it is just OK. Its named "The Happiest Man on Earth" but the guy spends most of the Documentary crying. The people that really should be celebrated in the Documentary are his kids and his ex-wife. They are the real heroes of this story. Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member I loved this movie! Billy was open and honest and I loved watching him do life. Life is about how you handle it and he handled it with grace. I think watching this movie makes you remember that we create our own happy by making others happy. Great job! Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/06/23 Full Review Chris Sexton F Billy Flanigan: The Happiest Man on Earth is a striking portrait of a man who has brought joy to countless people over his incredibly long (and record-breaking) career as a performer at Disney World. The best thing about this film is that it doesn't pull its punches. It may be a feel-good film in the end, but it doesn't turn Billy into a cartoon character. This allows the audience to see themselves reflected in his struggles and his triumphs. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/20/22 Full Review bethany f How does one become Disney World's longest-contracted live performer? As this film shows, it's with tremendous dedication, hard work, and heart. This inspirational story exemplifies resiliency in the face of challenges, how pulling together makes us better, the importance of kindness through the simplest acts, and ultimately, how deeply those acts can impact others. Be prepared to laugh and maybe cry too. It's a ride worth taking! Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review scott j Billy Flanigan: The Happiest Man on Earth is brilliantly written, directed, and edited. Throughout the movie, I was moved to tears, both sad and happy, and I'm a better person for having watched it. Billy's story is not only remarkable, but inspirational. If you haven't yet seen this movie, do yourself a favor and watch it...and then watch it again. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member Billy Flanigan is Disney's longest-serving contract performer (now 40 years!). This is the story of triumph through tragedy and how he spread a little fairy dust across the country during the Covid crisis. It also tells of how he was able to use the unprecedented time and isolation to heal old wounds and restore relationships. The full-length feature film was written and directed by the brilliant and talented Cullen Douglas, filmed while we were all still shuttered away in our homes and hovels. I knew that all of the interviews were conducted online, and I couldn't really imagine how that could be presented effectively. But the medium provided an immediacy and a startling intimacy for which I was completely unprepared. Footage from over 4 decades is seamlessly woven throughout, as are phone videos made of Billy arriving unexpectedly at people's homes, capturing in real time the impact that his seemingly simple gesture had on them during those dark days. The graphic effects, the art, and the music wonderfully capture the spirit of Disney at its best, embodied so fully by Billy Flanigan. Douglas' own long career as actor on stage and screen (both big and small) and writer have clearly contributed to his remarkable narrative ability. The sensitivity he brought to the multi-award-winning 2019 short film *Portrait of a Woman at Dawn* is abundantly evident in this new film. He clearly engenders trust and creates a space that allows each of the speakers - many of whom are not performers - to be open, vulnerable and genuine, even when discussing very painful events. Yet Douglas never stoops to facile sentimentality, expertly avoiding emotional manipulation (of speakers and audience) and over-dramatized expression. In short, Douglas tells a story that is worth telling, and he he tells it very, very well. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/31/23 Full Review Read all reviews

Billy Flanigan: The Happiest Man on Earth

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