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 STARBUCKING
(Heretic Films)
Documentary. 73 minutes. Not Rated. In 1997, Winter decided to set his
arse a goal: visit every Starbucks location. Not only does he run around
visiting Starbucks, he also must drink a coffee from each store and take a
photograph. That may not seem like a big deal, but since Winter visits
many stores a day, the caffeine in his systems is constantly pushing full.
In fact, Winter tries to break his personal best of hitting 28 stores in
24 hours, and downs a cup of Joe at every stop. With camera in hand, Bill
Tangeman follows Winter from store to store and on the road capturing the
adventures, including a face to face with the “Denny’s” guy, of an
obsessive compulsive man who also just happens to be one jittery mo-fo.
I originally requested this DVD from Heretic’s PR
dude to hopefully better understand the obsession people have with coffee
as I do not drink the sludge and fail to get its appeal. However, this
documentary isn’t about coffee or even Starbucks for that matter; it’s
about one man’s look at life and how he uses this Starbucks goal as a
way of achievement. Yes, coffee and Starbucks is the vehicle and prominent
throughout, but both could have been replaced with anything and the feel
and meaning of the documentary would remain intact. Winter, who’s a mish
mash of Gilbert Gottfried, Charles De Mar from Better
Off Dead, and Gary Dell Abate, started this run in 1997 and continues
to this day, but there is no time stamp in this documentary letting
viewers know the span captured. The oddest thing about Starbucking
is how Winter seems “alive” only while on the road running from
Starbucks to Starbucks. While home or at leisure, he comes across as bored
and almost depressed. What will become of Winter when/if he is unable to
partake in his journeys? Extras include commentary with Winter and
Tangemen, deleted scenes, and trailers. Starbucking
is mind boggling, funny (you have to laugh at Winter’s hand rubbing
enthusiasm at being the first customer at a new Starbucks), and good for
fans of road trip junk. – Denis Sheehan
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