DVD Review: ‘Twisted, A Balloonamentary’

This little documentary was actually playing for about a week at single theater in St. Louis, but I just couldn’t manage to fit it into my schedule. This was a little frustrating because I had been reading all these “really great” things about it and was intrigued. So, now that it’s just come out on DVD, I snatched up a copy to view and review …

I don’t want to use the term “disappointment” to describe my experience watching Twisted: A Balloonamentary, but I have to say its not “all that” as the reviews I had read may have indicated. Its a great little documentary about people who twist balloons, professionally, how they got there and how its influenced their lives. The story is actually pretty fascinating, especially since several of these balloon artists are apparently making six-figure salaries … and balloon-twisting is their ONLY occupation! Man, did I ever make a wrong turn at career choice junction. I’m suing my high school career advisor … he never even mentions balloon-twisting!

One of several unknown facets of this industry that I learned about while watching this film is that there are several major balloon-twisting conventions/conferences every year, in several different countries. Balloon twisters are not all clowns, but some clowns are balloon-twisters. You wouldn’t believe some of the things people can twist balloons into and not all of them are for kids. Some people literally spend hours (at times more than 16 hours) on a single balloon sculpture. The best part is, ‘Twisted’ allows us an intriguing glimpse inside a culture little known to outsiders.

As I said, its a great story, filled with lots of interesting people, some of whom are a bit “too” interesting, but as I always say … “if what a person does makes them happy and its not hurting anyone else, more power to them.” The one draw back about this film is that it sort of has a PBS programming feel to it at times and takes some of the appeal away, but is worth seeing anyway.

[rating:3/5]