Pamela Anderson in a still from ‘Pamela, A Love Story’ | Photo credit: Netflix
CJ Parker walks slowly down the beach in a swimsuit. Baywatch – Everyone has seen, heard or talked about this pop culture moment that is still referred to with excitement, derision, glee and loathing two decades later. Movies and shows have either paid homage to or requested the act of raising eyebrows and catching eyes. However, the man behind the actor has been hiding lately.
Directed by Ryan White, Pamela, a love story Pamela Anderson gives agency over how her life story is told in the media.
Pamela, A Love Story (English)
Director: Ryan White
Cast: Pamela Anderson, Brandon Thomas Lee, Dylan Jagger Lee
Runtime: 114 minutes
Story: In her own words, through diaries and videotapes, Pamela Anderson shares the story of her rise to fame.
Last year, an eight-episode long Hulu original title Tom and Pammysought to describe the actor’s relationship with Thomas “Tommy” LeBass, a musician and founding member of Motley Crue, and the events that followed the leak of the pair’s infamous sex tape. The show, which bills itself as a dark comedy, deals with the spousal abuse Anderson endured at the hands of Lee and portrays the drummer as a lovable bully. This 114-minute long documentary feels like the answer.
Dressed in a white dress and messy hair with no make-up, sitting at his lakeside property in Canada, the actor traces his path to the country of his birth. By being discovered by accident Playboy Becoming the sex symbol of an entire generation, the actress opens up about breast implants, her love for love, and the tumultuous relationships in her life.
Through diaries and videotapes, with occasional comments from her sons, she talks about being abused as a child, fighting abuse from liberals and conservatives alike, and her many marriages. The actor presents himself as an open book. He is honest and unapologetic.
There are events that the actor doesn’t touch on — such as his 12-day wedding to Jon Peters — but that won’t give the audience anything to complain about as it paints an almost complete picture of the actor.
The documentary feels too rushed toward its end—the portrayal of his friendship with Julian Assange and his activism with PETA fails to seamlessly integrate with the rest of the documentary, and it’s about the actor himself. It loses the poetic and romantic feelings.
Finally, we see Pamela acting and performing the role of Roxie Hart in ‘Chicago’ on Broadway. Her performance has garnered critical acclaim and public love—the actor says she’s finally doing something for herself and promises no more male jokes. After decades of working for others, Pamela seems to have found a stepping stone to discovering her own sense of self.
Pamela, A Love Story is currently streaming on Netflix.
