I’ll admit it right off the top: If I wasn’t a fan of HBO’s Entourage, I probably would have had little interest in star Adrian Grenier’s documentary, A Shot in the Dark. But then, it’s probably safe to assume that HBO wouldn’t have aired the film if Grenier wasn’t a co-star on one of the networks biggest series. Regardless, this documentary turned out to be an look at familial dynamics.
Primarily shot in 1999, Shot in the Dark is the story of Grenier’s search for his father, a father he last saw at five years old. The idea for the film was conceived one day while the actor and his friends were joking he should just show up on his father’s doorstep, while one of his friends was quietly filming in the bushes. Grenier eventually realized that he wanted to turn his personal journey into a project about “the importance of having a father” and how “having a father figure affects our culture.”
Adrian Grenier who was raised by his mother, Karesse, met Adrian’s father John Dunbar at a communal farm where she was teaching ritual dance. They quickly connected, and Adrian was conceived. Karesse is surprisingly open, and answers some difficult questions. She admits she had a lot of lovers during that period; she couldn’t be sure John was Adrian’s father. Later though, when Adrian finally meets John, one look and it becomes obvious the two are father and son.
After a series of phone calls with his father, Adrian took a camera with him on his road trip from New York to Ohio to see him face-to-face. Before he even takes to the road, we get our first twist in the story. When Grenier asks his dad if he can see where he lives. Dunbar, a soft spoken man, hesitates, and Adrian freezes. As it turns out, John’s current wife Debbie is having problems accepting that her husband has a grown son.
Of course, John and Adrian reconnect, but first, the film explores the meaning of fatherhood. We see a series of interviews—in one, a middle-aged man says matter-of-factly that his old man disowned him years before. At the end, with a hint of sadness, he says love is the only thing that matters. In another, a skinhead fights back tears as he laments his father’s lack of interest in his life.
On the surface, what happens in Shot in the Dark may seem as predictable as a typical Hollywood ending. However, it ends up being more than that, largely because Adrian Greiner and other members of his family were willing to share so much. It’s clear, that even though a father and son now have a relationship, a lot of hurt, and uncertainty had to be worked out to make it possible.
This standard DVD presentation looks fine, for a documentary. The interviews tend to vary in terms of picture quality, but they are all very watchable. Audio is presented in Dolby 2.0, and it’s fine for this film that consists largely of interviews that are always clear and understandable. English, French, and Spanish subtitles are included.
The DVD includes an audio commentary with Grenier, his father, and producer/editor Jim Mol, updates on his family, additional scenes, and a clip of Grenier discussing fatherhood.
