James Coburn narrates this brief, extremely superficial documentary by Robert Heath on the life of Playboy Magazine founder Hugh Hefner. The roots of Hefner's past begin with some miserable childhood years, eventually leading to his rise up the ladder to decadent high society via an initially low-budget girlie mag. Film skimps a bit (but doesn't ignore) Hefner's troubled times in the tumultuous 1970s, and wraps things up with a now-dated ribbon as Hef enjoys happy times as a husband and father. Painless fluff is mildly entertaining, but it doesn't dig very deeply or ruffle anybody's feathers. One aspect that isn't touched upon: just how a suavely arrogant (but not especially handsome) man could become a sex symbol himself. ** from ****
Review of Hugh Hefner: Once Upon a Time
