The most famous person in X-rated movies today may very well be a 48-year old New York Jew stage-named Ron Jeremy. More commonly known as the "Hedgehog", Scott J. Gill's fan-driven documentary peeks behind the legend to see what makes the world's best-known woodsman tick. The answers, while not surprising, lead through a 90-minute parade of good humor, gentle anecdotes and an overall sense that Jeremy is a lovable but often-misunderstood teddy bear of a man.

At once fat, hairy, talkative and funny, his fame stems from the fact he's a blue-collar porno hero with legions of fans. Of course his nine and three-quarters inch long tool has also added to his reputation with appearances in some 1600 adult movies, not counting the 100-odd titles he's directed.

Organized in digestible chunks each segment is infused with compelling interviews and generous excerpts from the star's filmography. One section discusses his childhood complete with home movies and yearbook photos. Another details his life as a teacher and failed actor in the mid-1970s. Another remembers his introduction to sex work after a Playgirl layout that quickly snowballed into a hard-core career. The most interesting sequences, though, are the ones devoted to questions of motivation.

Because his career is at odds with conventional family life, he's a lonely middle-aged man looking towards the sunset of professional dreams. Narcissistically urged on by a need for total acceptance, his career also negates mainstream affection since the Hedgehog would ultimately like to succeed as a legitimate Hollywood actor.

That Jeremy is honest about these limitations is interesting. That he's unabashedly chosen to be a sex performer despite them is also its own just reward with frequent travel opportunities and exposure to sights unimagined to people not nose-deep in the letters of Penthouse Forum.

As a highly detailed look at the life and times of Ron Jeremy, Porn Star falls short of being a revelation to industry aficionados. For the uninitiated, however, it's a gentle entrée into the world of skin and sin. Just be warned of the movie's strong language and explicit sexual images. If such subjects appeal to you Porn Star is a must see. Otherwise you've been well warned to avoid it like the plague.