Written by: Michael Den Boer on April 26th, 2010
Theatrical Release Date: USA, 2008
Director: Shelby McIntyre
Cast: Joe Redner, Joy Redner, Edie Burns, Lorelei Jackson, Teresa Redner
DVD released: August 4th, 2009
Approximate running time: 80 minutes
Aspect Ratio: Letterboxed Widescreen
Rating: NR
Sound: Dolby Digital Stereo English
Subtitles: N/A
DVD Release: Passion River Films
Region Coding: Region 1 NTSC
Retail Price: $16.99
Strip Club King is an in depth look into Joe Redner’s legal battles with the Tampa Bay city council. The majority of his legal battles involved the Mons Venus a nude strip club that he opened in Tampa Bay in 1982. Besides the Mons Venus and his battles with the Tampa Bay city council. The film’s also explores his multiple for public office, his public access show The Voice of Freedom, his family and his often overlooked charity work.
The documentary does a good job balancing between comments from Joe Redner, those who are close to him and comments from those who have battled him over the years. The strongest moments are the footage from news programs and The Voice of Freedom. Even though the newly shot interviews are not as powerful they are a welcome addition as they give a more personal look into who Joe Redner is. Ultimately Strip Club king is a fascinating documentary that does a remarkable job humanizing the often demonized Joe Redner.
The DVD:
Strip Club King: the Story of Joe Redner is presented in a letterboxed widescreen. This documentary compiles footage from various sources and with the bulk of the footage in pretty good shape. The newly shot interviews are in the best shape out of all the footage which appears in this documentary.
This release comes with one audio option, a Dolby Digital stereo mix in English. The audio like video varies in quality. Even though there are some instances of background noise it never becomes intrusive.
Extras for this release include a trailer for the film, Joe Redner political ad’s, Miss Nude Tampa promos and a additional segment titled “Joe vs. David Caton”. Overall Strip Club King: the Story of Joe Redner gets a while rounded audio / video presentation.