The Wavy Gravy Movie: Saint Misbehavin'

Michelle Esrick directed this joyous portrait of an icon of 1960s counterculture, Wavy Gravy, who even today blooms with the era's flower-power idealism. Born Hugh Romney, Wavy hobnobbed with Ken Kesey and the Merry Pranksters and worked as a poet/lyricist, actor, and 'unusual comic' (aka performance artist) alongside Lenny Bruce, Tiny Tim, and B.B. King (the bluesman came up with the 'Wavy Gravy' nickname). Adopting a jester/fool persona, Wavy and his wife (of five decades now), Jahanara, started the Hog Farm, a successful commune that made history behind the scenes by coordinating the mythic Woodstock festival. He proceeded to participate in international relief missions (an astounding story in itself) and nomadic nonviolent social-justice/peace protests, despite a crippling spinal condition not helped by rough treatment from riot police (with intervals in a full body cast). Today hosting Camp Winnarainbow, a performing-arts children's camp, the Berkeley, CA–based Wavy looks on the bright side: a bad back won him the right to park in handicapped zones while getting ice cream for the kids (he has a lifelong free pass at Ben & Jerry's). The famously Hollywoodized Dr. 'Patch' Adams is among the commentators and fellow activists (others include Buffy Sainte-Marie, Jackson Browne, and Ram Dass) who describe Wavy as a friend, intellectual, humanitarian, peace advocate, spiritual seeker, clown, and family man. Largely eschewing left-versus-right politics, this winning profile is a true delight. DVD extras include deleted scenes. Highly recommended. Editor's Choice. Aud: C, P. (C. Cassady) [DVD Review—Oct. 22, 2019—Kino Lorber, 86 min., not rated, DVD: $19.99—Making its latest appearance on DVD, 2009’s The Wavy Gravy Movie: Saint Misbehavin’ features a great transfer and a Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack. Extras include extra scenes (57 min.) and an interview with subject Wavy Gravy and his wife Jahanara Romney (35 min.). Bottom line: an excellent edition of this fine doc.]