I imagine many people had a similar experience… but I watched Boss Ross as a teenager and A) could never replicate what he did so easily and B) watched impressed (and annoyed) as he’d slap something on canvas and then magically turn it into one of those happy little trees. That wasn’t remotely a mountain or a tree or even a damn cloud a second ago…

The documentary is the life story of Bob Ross (turns out he WAS military and the afro is from a hair dresser… and apparently he is as nice as he appeared on tv). It doesn’t cover too much of his personal life, mainly it focuses on his art and his tv show. But also his business dealings with the Kowalskis – the couple that currently owns his likeness. They are painted as the villains of the piece (the betrayal and greed part of the title).

This is a pretty solid documentary… which would have been better if they’d been able to get the Kowalskis in for an interview. And if other people weren’t afraid of a lawsuit from the same people. I don’t know for sure how much of this is true… but certainly the documentary is casting its heroes and villains.

All I do know for sure is that I was at a Bob Evans last week and saw Bob Ross Happy Little Tree Mints tins at the counter. I thought of that while watching this doc… and how his likeness and name have been commodified ever since his death. I’m not convinced that, if the Evil Kowalskis’s didn’t have the rights, that Ross’ heirs wouldn’t be selling Bob Ross mints either. And who’s to say where the truth lies since we only get the story from one angle.

This is a pretty good documentary about a guy who’s life story was more interesting than I’d have expected. Certainly it’s got an axe to grind and a story to tell that we can only assume is true. Unless we’re the villains of the piece (in others words: the Kowalski’s are gonna be pissed).

Score: 82