Survivor of sitcom hell, whipping girl for the Hollywood caste system, self-described slut, unabashed fag hag, and, above all, fabulously funny comedienne, Margaret Cho is a legend unto herself. In 1994, Cho, a veteran of the stand-up circuit, was tapped to star in her own sitcom, All-American Girl. The ensuing insanity that came with Cho's stardom -- eating disorders, alcohol and drug problems -- taught her a hard lesson in Hollywood politics and the price of being cast as a role model for an entire ethnic group. Fortunately, Cho was able to overcome a number of obstacles to regain her sanity; even more fortuitously for her fans, she turned her experiences into the basis for her one-woman show, "I'm The One That I Want." The show, which proved enormously successful, included observations on everything from Hollywood hypocrisy, Cho's Korean mother, gay bars, doing a gig on a lesbian whale-watching cruise in Alaska, and why straight male porn actors tend to be so incredibly ugly. ~ Rebecca Flint Marx, All Movie Guide
Review
Turning a professional failure -- the disastrously short run of her sitcom All American Girl -- into an artistic success, Margaret Cho created the monologue/theater piece I'm the One That I Want. Although outrageous (don't even ask about the "crucifixion workout"), the film is not all laughs and giggles, as Cho shows the dark side of show business with honesty so poignant and graceful that one can't help but be moved. Her heart-wrenching, bittersweet tale of a struggle for self-acceptance can be summed up in her joke about her grandfather who, on his deathbed and unable to recognize her on previous visits, suddenly came "out of it," smiled a little, and in all earnestness said, "Margaret! What ever happened to your show?" The film warrants one criticism. Although there is footage of audience members on the way in (including a rare shot of her actual parents), we never see the close-up audience reactions to Cho's performance. ~ Sandy Lawson, All Movie Guide
Lionel Coleman - Director, Robyn T. Migel - Editor, Margaret Cho - Executive Producer, Karen Taussig - Executive Producer, Dennis Sugasawara - Line Producer, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts - Composer (Music Score), Lionel Coleman - Cinematographer, Lorene Machado - Producer, Michael Emery - Sound/Sound Designer, Margaret Cho - Screenwriter
