Britney Baby, One More Time! (2002)

If there were any doubts about the veracity of cult documentary American Movie, then this weak road comedy should put them all to rest. Wisconsin filmmaker Mark Borchardt proves here that he's no actor, even when playing a thinly disguised version of himself; as a result, the seriocomic antics captured in American Movie must have been real. Britney Baby, One More Time! is based on a true story, but Robert Thompson's tale of mistaken identity and pop idol worship makes for a cute anecdote and little more. As a drag queen, he's a reasonably convincing female (even if his jaw is a bit too square), but it's hard to accept that everyone he comes across is gullible enough to mistake him for Britney Spears. Thompson's talent for dancing and lip-synching is undeniable, but his high-pitched "femme" voice gets grating quickly, and he's no better than Borchardt in portraying himself on-camera. An assortment of familiar road-trip tropes are weaved into the story, there are plenty of unlikely dance partners for Thompson, and the plucky cross-dresser even helps a tomboy camera operator unleash the femininity she has hidden inside. The budget apparently wasn't big enough to license the original recordings of Spears' hits, so the audience is treated to a Britney impersonator on the soundtrack as well. Borchardt's friend and American Movie cohort Mike Schank is the best thing here, if only because he's the only one who isn't acting. He's simply being his own sweet, damaged self and provides the film's few genuinely funny moments, particularly a non sequitur rumination over a tankful of fish. ~ Fred Beldin, All Movie Guide