Trailer and poster for the documentary Craigslist Joe attempts to sell you on its premise

Last Updated on August 5, 2021

I heard mention of this a while back, and now it appears that CRAIGSLIST JOE is ready to bow in theaters after a long journey across the country.  The documentary is executive produced by Zach Galifianakis, but his comedic fingerprints are really nowhere to be found here, unless you equate that he oftentimes looks like a bum and the kid in this film kind of becomes one.

Meet me behind the 7-11.  No cops.  No wires:

This feels like a nice little idealistic crusade documentary with some genuine heartfelt and comedic moments that echo the strangeness of people everywhere. The concept of exploring a particular subject with set parameters is prevalent in many documentaries and it can yield some interesting results, many of which have to be taken with a grain of salt, but are compelling nonetheless.  CRAIGSLIST JOE should fit well inside that mold.

Here’s the synopsis:

In a time when America’s economy and sense of community were crumbling, one guy left everything behind–to see if he could survive solely on the support of the 21st century’s new town square: Craigslist. It was in this climate that 29-year-old Joseph Garner cut himself off from everyone he knew and everything he owned, to embark on a bold adventure. Armed with only a laptop, cell phone, toothbrush, and the clothes on his back–alongside the hope that community was not gone but just had shifted–Joseph began his journey. For 31 December days and nights, everything in his life would come from the Craigslist website. From transportation to food, from shelter to companionship, Joe would depend on the generosity of people who had never seen him and whose sole connection to him was a giant virtual swap meet. Would America help Joe? Could he survive with nothing, apart from the goodwill of others?

CRAIGSLIST JOE is set to open in theaters on August 2, 2012.