The Insufferable Groo (2018)

The Insufferable Groo is that rare documentary that makes you laugh at the sheer audacity of a dream while quietly reminding you why chasing it matters. Following indefatigable DIY filmmaker Stephen Groo as he tries to level up from ultra-low-budget legend to a real-world production with the blessing of superfan Jack Black, it plays like a heartfelt underdog comedy with a filmmaker’s soul. Director Scott Christopherson captures the messy, endearing humanity behind independent cinema—the hustle, the hope, the awkward pitches, and the stubborn, infectious passion that keeps the camera rolling. If you love stories about outsiders creating against the odds (and you have a soft spot for the “American Movie” vibe), this is inspiring; if you can’t stand watching someone swing big and miss a few times on the way, it may test your patience, but that’s also the point.

The Insufferable Groo is clearly trying to be a funny-but-sincere look at an unstoppable DIY filmmaker chasing a bigger break, and it does capture the oddball hustle of microbudget moviemaking. The catch is that the movie leans hard on Stephen Groo’s personality, and if you don’t enjoy watching someone come off as self-centered, domineering, and oblivious to how they affect others, it can feel more exhausting than enlightening. The “will Jack Black get involved?” hook gives it some forward momentum, but the discomfort and secondhand frustration are part of the package, not a side effect. If you like documentaries that study difficult people with a steady, observational eye, you may find it fascinating; if you want a charming underdog story, this probably isn’t your kind of ride.