Ron Jeremy: The ultimate family man

Have you ever watched porn? Sure, we all have. Chances are, then, that you've encountered one of the most unlikely stars to ever hit the porno industry. Ron Jeremy, star of the X-rated screen, has appeared in literally thousands of pornographic movies, spanning from the late 1970s up to the present day.

Jeremy's fans call him "Hedgehog," and for a good reason: he's fat, short, and hairy. How does a man like this get paid to have sex with literally thousands of beautiful women and yet still remain unhappy? Porn Star: The Legend of Ron Jeremy tackles this question, as well as many others. For example, Jeremy's exact penile length (his penis was described by one costar as "huge, but squishy, like a sponge"), as well as his world-renowned ability to fellate himself, add to the comedic moments of this film. Yet, for those of you in Pike who were planning on seeing bush, bush, and more bush, disappointment may await you - the film also delves into the personal tragedies of Jeremy's life, including the death of his mother and his inability to find love. (Who needs love when you get paid to get head?)

This is perhaps one of the best documentaries I've seen in recent history. Not since the rather tame 1997 documentary, Wild Man Blues, have I laughed so hard (no pun intended). Directed by Scott Gill, this film finds the right balance between the comedic, the grotesque, and the touching. Despite the focus on Jeremy's career in pornography, it paints a poignant story of life on the road, moving from one event to the next. Psychologists may point to his thousands of conquests and his love of partying (though Jeremy attributes his success in the industry to avoiding drugs and alcohol) as a cover for his lack of a meaningful love life. Using plastic bags as luggage and storing phone numbers and notes in a beaten-up binder, Jeremy travels the country going from fraternity events to interviews to Jerry Springer appearances.

Despite all of this, and the obviously alternative nature of his career, Jeremy has a close, but not too close, relationship with his father and sister. The willingness of Jeremy's family to be interviewed for the documentary further adds to the content of the film. Jeremy's father includes an anecdote about baby Ron sitting in the hospital hours after birth. One of the nurses goes up to Jeremy's father and comments that her husband would be jealous if he ever saw baby Ron's wee-wee. You, too, can check out Ron's package.

Nominated for the Best Documentary of the Year award by the Chicago Film Critics Association, Porn Star is playing at the Charles Theater through tonight.