I had to pass through two lines of picketers to enter the Mudhollow Art Center in Mudhollow Kansas in order to attend a special screening of an underground cult classic currently experiencing a renaissance.

The picketers were the entire congregation of to Mudhollow Baptists plus 10 Greenpeace activists who were brought in from the big city at $10 a head plus travel expenses to pad out the demonstration. Picket signs bore slogans such as "Stop child pornography", and "God hates FILTH!". Though they did allow me to cross the lines I swear one guy in the second line grabbed my butt as I walked away. At any rate I was not in the best of moods when the Mudhollow Arts Director started the video tape for an audience of myself and 3 other people. Nonetheless I was floored by the most touching and real film I have seen in many years.

The film "Timmy Smitter's Potty Training" grabs you right away with a full face close-up of the charismatic little star beaming proudly "I go poops!". In this simple declaration the story is set for the rest of the movie. TSPT chronicles the triumphs and tragedies that culminated in this moment of achievement in a style that simulates a home video. The name of the director surrounding this underground classic--but the film is definitely worth rooting out. Given the level of the performance I personally suspect that Little Timmy was played by none other than Mike Meyers in the most amazing job of flesh-suit makeup since he played Fat Bastard in 'Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me'. But whoever it is they deserve a whole steaming mound of Kudos for their touching and very convincing performance.

Admittedly the film does deal boldly and audaciously with scatological themes and does contain a great deal of child nudity but those who focus on those aspects miss the real value of this little gem. The kid goes poops you morons! All by himself! Can't you just accept that for what it is?

Since the entire film is only 15 minutes long I cannot go into too much detail on the events of the story without spoiling the entire thing. I will simply have to give my review in two words: "See it". Though I can safely add that the line that cracked me up the most was Little Timmy's lemonade line (that just has to be Mike in that makeup!).

It may be hard to find, but "Timmy Smitter's Potty Training" is not to be missed.

--Phillip Matanka


--just one