March 26, 2023
FILM: THE PEZ OUTLAW
DIRECTED BY: AMY BANDLIEN STORKEL, BRYAN STORKEL
STARRING: ERIC LEUKERT, JIM BLAINE, KATIE CHRZANOWSKI
RATING: 3 ½ out of 4 stars
By Dan Pal
As a kid, I attempted to collect everything from Fisher Price Little People to TV Guides and beer cans. Pez dispensers were not on my radar. Although when I look at them now, as seen in the documentary The Pez Outlaw, I’m sort of surprised I didn’t try hoarding a few. They were colorful and featured pop culture figures such as clowns and animated characters with movable heads to push back in order to receive some sweet candy. I guess I just wasn’t into those little candies enough to purchase them let alone collect them. For those in Chicago who have never seen them (I know, very few of you) David Letterman once commented that the heads perched in front of the Merchandise Mart represented the Pez Hall of Fame. This was a joke, of course, but they seem eerily connected.
The story of Steve Glew is a fascinating one. He lives on a farm in Michigan with his wife of many, many decades. He has suffered through OCD, anxiety, and depression (which I know are often easily linked.) His appearance suggests someone homeless or a former hippie. He doesn’t come across as a person that would make millions off of those famous Pez dispensers. However, his obsessive collecting led him to European countries to find the manufacturer of the plastic candy holders. As the film depicts, Glew discovered that there was an abundant number of these dispensers not being sold in the U.S. After purchasing hundreds, he managed to get them through customs via a loophole in the registered (or lack thereof) trademark. This began a very lucrative business that had him selling these cheaply produced, rare items for sometimes into the thousands of dollars. Of course, corporate America has a way of finding such “outlaw” entrepreneurs and, well, his story doesn’t have the happiest of endings, depending on how you view the resolution.
The Pez Outlaw is a very entertaining documentary that is filled with interviews including Glew and his family along with representatives from Pez and the U.S. Customs. It’s fascinating to hear their varying perspectives on what Glew did but what’s most interesting is how someone like Glew was able to circumvent the international import system for a good chunk of time.
Generally, the film is pretty fast-paced and the story is whimsically told. One particularly interesting choice the filmmakers make is to use actors to portray Glew and some of the people he interacted with back in the 1990s when most of this took place. The recreations feel authentic and are filled with intrigue and suspense (thanks in part to Glew’s own fascination with Tom Clancy novels which colors the narrative a bit.) There are also plenty of visits to some of the countries which Glew visited in his quests including Hungary, Croatia, and Austria. Overall it is a very well-produced and directed project.
If there is anything lacking here, it might be some history on the rise of the Pez dispensers themselves and how they became such a phenomenon for some. There is mention of a possible variation of the item that was to sell gum instead of candy but it doesn’t get much exploration. Still, anyone who remembers Pez will find the film delightful and informative. The film did get nominated for a Best Documentary award as one of the “Movies for Grownups” by the AARP. So, there’s that. However, I think anyone who has ever collected anything with hopes of making money off of their collection someday will also find a lot here to enjoy.
The Pez Outlaw is currently streaming on Netflix.
FILM: THE PEZ OUTLAW
DIRECTED BY: AMY BANDLIEN STORKEL, BRYAN STORKEL
STARRING: ERIC LEUKERT, JIM BLAINE, KATIE CHRZANOWSKI
RATING: 3 ½ out of 4 stars
By Dan Pal
As a kid, I attempted to collect everything from Fisher Price Little People to TV Guides and beer cans. Pez dispensers were not on my radar. Although when I look at them now, as seen in the documentary The Pez Outlaw, I’m sort of surprised I didn’t try hoarding a few. They were colorful and featured pop culture figures such as clowns and animated characters with movable heads to push back in order to receive some sweet candy. I guess I just wasn’t into those little candies enough to purchase them let alone collect them. For those in Chicago who have never seen them (I know, very few of you) David Letterman once commented that the heads perched in front of the Merchandise Mart represented the Pez Hall of Fame. This was a joke, of course, but they seem eerily connected.
The story of Steve Glew is a fascinating one. He lives on a farm in Michigan with his wife of many, many decades. He has suffered through OCD, anxiety, and depression (which I know are often easily linked.) His appearance suggests someone homeless or a former hippie. He doesn’t come across as a person that would make millions off of those famous Pez dispensers. However, his obsessive collecting led him to European countries to find the manufacturer of the plastic candy holders. As the film depicts, Glew discovered that there was an abundant number of these dispensers not being sold in the U.S. After purchasing hundreds, he managed to get them through customs via a loophole in the registered (or lack thereof) trademark. This began a very lucrative business that had him selling these cheaply produced, rare items for sometimes into the thousands of dollars. Of course, corporate America has a way of finding such “outlaw” entrepreneurs and, well, his story doesn’t have the happiest of endings, depending on how you view the resolution.
The Pez Outlaw is a very entertaining documentary that is filled with interviews including Glew and his family along with representatives from Pez and the U.S. Customs. It’s fascinating to hear their varying perspectives on what Glew did but what’s most interesting is how someone like Glew was able to circumvent the international import system for a good chunk of time.
Generally, the film is pretty fast-paced and the story is whimsically told. One particularly interesting choice the filmmakers make is to use actors to portray Glew and some of the people he interacted with back in the 1990s when most of this took place. The recreations feel authentic and are filled with intrigue and suspense (thanks in part to Glew’s own fascination with Tom Clancy novels which colors the narrative a bit.) There are also plenty of visits to some of the countries which Glew visited in his quests including Hungary, Croatia, and Austria. Overall it is a very well-produced and directed project.
If there is anything lacking here, it might be some history on the rise of the Pez dispensers themselves and how they became such a phenomenon for some. There is mention of a possible variation of the item that was to sell gum instead of candy but it doesn’t get much exploration. Still, anyone who remembers Pez will find the film delightful and informative. The film did get nominated for a Best Documentary award as one of the “Movies for Grownups” by the AARP. So, there’s that. However, I think anyone who has ever collected anything with hopes of making money off of their collection someday will also find a lot here to enjoy.
The Pez Outlaw is currently streaming on Netflix.
The Pez Hall of Fame: