Shut Up, Little Man captures a peculiar slice of pre-internet viral culture.
Two guys in San Francisco record their combative neighbor’s loud, alcohol-fueled arguments.
I currently rank “Shut Up, Little Man” #8 in my “22 Funniest Documentaries“
“Shut Up, Little Man” Trailer
Watch “Shut Up, Little Man”
There are a few ways to watch Shut Up, Little Man:
- Watch it for free (with library card) on Kanopy at https://www.kanopy.com/en/product/shut-little-man-0
- Watch it on Peacock at https://www.peacocktv.com/watch-online/movies/documentary/shut-up-little-man-an-audio-misadventure/b1f25e90-a3ce-31a9-b4d3-bee2aab09e3e
- For free (with ads) on Tubi TV, Pluto TV and Plex
- For rent ($2.99 last I checked) on Amazon and Vudu
- Full streaming options are at https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/shut-up-little-man-an-audio-misadventure
Ratings:
- My Rating: 94/100
- IMDB Rating: 6.6
- Rotten Tomatoes Ratings: 62/100 (user); 68/100 (critic)
My Review of “Shut Up, Little Man”
“Shut Up, Little Man!” (2011) is a 90-minute dive into accidental cult fame.
Director Matthew Bate takes us into the world of Eddie and Mitch.
They’re two young guys who recorded their neighbors’ wild arguments in the late ’80s.
Here’s the setup:
Eddie and Mitch move into a San Francisco apartment.
After Eddie signs the lease, their landlord warns them that their neighbors can get “a little loud.”
Little did they know, they’d be eavesdropping on Peter and Raymond, a duo who can’t stop bickering.
Peter’s Cooking Rant, that’s a highlight.
He goes off about mundane kitchen troubles with such theatrical flair, it’s absurdly hilarious.
Picture a man fuming over cooking, his voice booming through thin walls.
Then there’s Raymond’s Clothing Diatribe. In the middle of a heated argument, he suddenly switches gears to rant about his fashion choices. It’s bizarre, unexpected, and oddly comedic.
Eddie and Mitch? They’re more than recorders; they’re our guides.
Their reactions to these overheard squabbles add layers to the story. They laugh, they cringe, they reflect – it’s like watching friends react to a live sitcom.
Bate stitches together these elements masterfully.
“Shut Up, Little Man!” isn’t just about voyeurism; it’s a commentary on privacy, entertainment, and the human condition. It’s a unique snapshot of a pre-internet viral sensation, where humor meets discomfort in a perfectly tangled audio tape.
Thanks for reading!
Rob Kelly, Chief Maniac, Daily Doc