I think having an intellectual property (be it a novel, a film or album) that you really and truly love is very important. If there’s a work of art that reflects your identity and interests you are blessed. For some people it’s Star Trek, X-Men, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Star Wars, or any or all of these things. To be a fan is to belong somewhere. That is what made the In Search Of Darkness movies so pleasant. Those films approximated the experience of geeking out with fellow fans.
A Disturbance In The Force attempts this, but never realizes such an approximation. What A Disturbance In The Force does is put the audience in the middle of two camps. On the one side are the creators who contributed to the Star Wars Holiday Special (1978) and on the other are Star Wars fans critical of the work. A Disturbance In The Force is essentially a document of cultural gatekeeping at work and therefore an exercise in keeping the viewer on the outside; away from the work and the community it inspires.
Ironically the filmmakers behind A Disturbance In The Force, Jeremy Coon and Steve Kozak, are two of the biggest George Lucas fanboys working in tinseltown. Yet their film functions as an exclusionary device whereby those unfamiliar with the Star Wars Holiday Special are branded as “other”. This turn of events isn’t surprising considering how toxic Star Wars fan culture often is on social media. Star Wars, more than Star Trek or Marvel Comics, inspires a toxic possessiveness in its fans.
Unfortunately A Disturbance In The Force also fails as a historical investigation. Too much time is allotted for comedic asides and jokes and too little time is dedicated to the “how” things got done on the notorious holiday special. When the filmmakers could be discussing aspects of production A Disturbance In The Force instead gives viewers a few witty comments from Seth Green or Kevin Smith. A Disturbance In The Force presents itself as the definitive “making of” documentary but it is in actuality little more than a general sketch of the production augmented by less than amusing commentaries from fans.
A Disturbance In The Force is a film be intensely loyal Star Wars fans for the most committed Star Wars fans. If one does not fall into either category then A Disturbance In The Force is not for you.
