Looking for Ms. Locklear

Back before the mega-success of Good Mythical Morning and its various offshoots, Rhett McLaughlin and Link Neal made humorous internet videos on various topics that interested them (or were hired by companies to make them) in addition to comedic music videos of their own songs (many of which can be found on YouTube now). This hour-long documentary started out as one of those shorts. However, in the course of filming their quest to find their beloved first-grade teacher, it quickly became much more than just a "short" and developed into a feature-length documentary.For those who don't know the "origin" story, Rhett and Link met in Ms. Locklear's first grade classroom in 1984 at Buies Creek Elementary in Buies Creek, NC. The story goes they were caught writing profanity on their desks and Ms. Locklear held them back for going outside for recess as punishment. She gave them unicorn drawings to color (implanting the concept of a "mythical beast" in the process), and the two boys became life-long friends, which continues to this day (Good Mythical Morning just wrapped its 20th season - the 10th year as they do 2 "seasons" a year with a winter break and a summer break).Flashforward to 2006. R&L have completed college together with degrees in engineering, gotten married (to different women and not to each other as some still suspect), turned their back on engineering as a career, and have decided to become a comedy duo, using the then still-fledgling internet as their primary medium, particularly a new site called YouTube that people can upload videos they make or illegally copy from other sources.And so they decide to set out to find their first grade teacher who essentially introduced them to each other. But the twist was they were going to do the old-fashioned way. They were not going to use Google or the Internet in any way, but just see if they could find her by word of mouth and acquaintances. In the process they learn about the Lumbee Tribe of Native Americans (of which Ms. Locklear is a member), and the Lumbee's longstanding efforts to have the US formally recognize them as an indigenous tribe. Suddenly their quest has taken on new meaning as they immerse themselves in Lumbee culture and (some) politics. Needless to say it's the Lumbee Tribal Office who finally help them track down Ms. Locklear, who's now a principal in a nearby county. They reunite with her with hugs and laughter and even perform a song "We Went Looking For Out First-Grade Teacher" to a school assembly at her new school.Touching moments all around and no hint of the occasional unhinged insanity that marks Good Mythical Morning. In fact, GMM would not come into existence for another 6 years or so from this film, and the guys wouldn't pack up and move to LA and "dink it and sink it" or "Will it...?" or inadvertently hit Chase with a misthrown dart, or take baths in cereal, Ranch dressing, etc. for awhile yet. There are some non sequiturs and absurd humor thrown in but it's not the focus of the film.So if you're expecting the current R&L, you won't find them here (though the seeds have been sown), but you will a heartfelt journey into their past to reconnect with that teacher who sent them on their mythical path.

Good

I'm a sucker for road movies, especially Hope and Crosby wisecracking their way across (fill in exotic locale) with Lamour popping up somewhere along the way. Nothing, I thought, could replace that talented duo in my heart.After viewing Rhett and Link's Looking for Ms. Locklear, I do believe that the Commercial Kings at least have nudged Bob and Bing over a bit and definitely set up a little place of their own in my cardio area.Rhett McLaughlin and Link Neal, if you don't already know, are up and coming YouTube sensations, filmmakers, and hosts of The Commercial Kings on the Independent Film Channel. Both former engineers, they began producing low budget yet exceedingly witty and quirky commercials for small businesses - their most famous being the Chuck Testa taxidermy ads which thrust Mr. Testa into internet memedom.The premise behind the film, Looking For Ms Locklear, is a road trip back to their North Carolina roots to find their first grade teacher. She is the reason that team Rhett and Link exists today. Keeping the young Rhett and Link inside from recess for writing bad words on their desks, Miss Locklear unknowingly cemented a friendship between them that has lasted a lifetime.Desiring to track her down to thank her for bringing them together, Rhett and Link decide to travel the back roads of their childhood seeking out people who may help them find her. Before starting out on their quest, they decide not to use any form of communication (internet or telephone) to locate her. They would only interact face- to-face with people, filming their adventure along the way.Looking For Ms. Locklear is an endearing tribute not only to a well-loved teacher, but to the people of Rhett and Link's place of growing up. The film is populated with real "characters" who, if handled with less loving hands, could have come off as targets of mockery - but with Rhett and Link we can only smile and wish we had them as neighbors.Surprisingly, Looking for Ms. Locklear is more than just nostalgic whimsy. As a serendipitous sideline, it brings to the fore the struggle of the Native American nation, the Lumbees, for Federal recognition as an Indian tribe with Rhett and link traveling to Washington DC to lend their moral support at a Senate hearing.I can't remember the last time I watched a personal documentary that wasn't cynical and jaded. Looking For Ms. Locklear is a delightful, uplifting movie that will make you feel good about humanity. It is well worth a look.

I’m a big fan of Rhett&Link....so it’s obvious that I had purchased this dvd....and enjoyed their search of their first grade teacher who’s responsible for that wonderful connection/friendship of 35yrs that continues to make me (& every Mythical Beast fans) laughs every mornings wathing GMM