by Grace McEvoy

Ron Jeremy gives the best head in heterosexual porn: so say the women who should know. That is one memorable piece of information I took away from the documentary film Porn Star: The Legend of Ron Jeremy, which was among a great variety of films to choose from at the South by Southwest Film Festival here in Austin in March. As I was waiting at the bar in Mad Dog Comedy Club, a young man asked me why I had come to this late night showing about an overweight middle aged porn star. I explained that I have a small child and I don't have that much control over when I can go to films. He said someone recommended that he see this film and asked if I had ever seen a Ron Jeremy Film. I answered; "No, I haven't." He admitted that he had seen a few because it was the thing to do among the guys in college and that he finds Ron Jeremy fat and unattractive. After all, this film is about a man who goes by the nickname "the hedgehog." I didn't bother to tell this stranger that I am also interested in what consumers like about pornography and what the people who make pornography think of their jobs. I am happy to say that I did get some insight on the subject of pornography from the film.

Ron Jeremy is a fan of Lord of the Dance; so we learn from an interview with a family friend in this smoothly constructed documentary. We are treated to an opening like a television show from the 1970s, the decade that Jeremy's film career began. A light-hearted tone is set for a film that succeeds in objectively humanizing a porn star through interviews with co-workers, friends, detractors, fans, and even his dad. An unexpected touch is the home movie footage of Jeremy as a child growing up in Queens, New York. People call Jeremy addicted (to food), a tightwad, a clown, a spotlight hound and a man who can maintain an erection longer than any man in pornography. He claims not to use Viagra®. He was born Ron Hyatt into a Jewish family who don't seem too put off by his ultimate career choice, although after the first porn film, his dad told Ron not to use his last name.

Ron Jeremy really wants to have children. But, how many women who want to have children are willing to do that with a man who's work includes getting an HIV test every month. Jeremy seems genuinely sad while talking about the fact that he has had only one short relationship in the last twenty years. She also worked in the adult film industry and left in disgust many years ago. Jeremy couldn't understand her attitude, which might explain why his "love" life has been limited to sex work, orgies and one night stands. Every frat boy's dream. Many men want to be in his place and he is an icon to the "regular guy" porn consumers of America. As Ron says: "People can relate. When you see a gorgeous guy getting all the girls, the audience goes, so what? You see a schlub like me get lucky and it's like there's hope for everybody else." I am not sure that I can relate. We are talking about a man who can count a film called Blow it Out Your Ass, as a typical title among the 1600 or so films he has appeared in. Although I think that title is pretty funny and I don't begrudge anyone a grand sex life, the pornographic films I have seen (we are not talking about a vast number of films) are too clinical. While the actors make exaggerated lustful expressions, or no expression at all, viewers endure poor quality filmmaking and close-ups that look like something one would have to undergo in the doctor's office. The realities of the act of lovemaking are graphic, and that is where porn falls short. It is one-dimensional. A film that is more holistic could even be erotic. Nothing comes to mind. Feel free to send in recommendations.

Ron Jeremy is a self promoting, unapologetic schmoozer, maintaining that his greatest thrill as "America's most unlikely sex star" has been to meet celebrities. He has had many bit parts in "legit" films and been cut from many more when the filmmakers discover who he is. If the dice had rolled another way, Jeremy is clearly a man who could pull off the "legit" film career he craves. His energy for work, travel and public appearances is endless. He keeps a fascinating phone book that looks like a chaotic roadmap of pages and pages with lines connecting people so he knows "how" he knows them. It seems odd that director Scott J. Gill had a hard time convincing Jeremy to allow him to make the documentary. Gill was inspired while watching his favorite Jeremy title -- What's Butt Got to do With It? -- and is the director, writer, producer and editor of this his first feature-length documentary. However, don't look for his credit on any pornographic films. He is strictly legit.