Phil Campbells unite to help relieve the people of Phil Campbell, Alabama in "I'm With Phil"
What starts out as a quirky one-dimensional documentary turns out to be a humanitarian effort for the people of Phil Campbell, Alabama. Upon learning of the town of Phil Campbell, Brooklyn native Phil Campbell becomes intrigued enough to start a convention inspired by the town's namesake. Thusly, Phil Campbells from all over the world descend upon the small town of Phil Campbell, Alabama.
Despite the rather self-serving and inane concept for the convention, the Phils are intrinsically linked through a series of events none of them could have anticipated. After a tornado wreaks havoc on the Alabama town, the convention turns from a meet-up into a relief effort.
Pitching in to help strangers who happen to live in a town who share their namesake, Phil Campbells from all over the globe ban together to help reverse the town's fortunes. Interestingly enough, the media coverage that inevitably follows brings little in the way of actual money raised, so it's up to a small group of people who share nothing else but a first and last name to make a difference.
The concept for the documentary is uniquely fun albeit somewhat silly. However, once you witness the interaction of virtual strangers coming to the aid of people who have lost everything, it's hard to suppress the warm fuzzies. "I'm With Phil" is more than a documented relief effort, it also serves as a method of raising awareness for a town that otherwise wouldn't have the resources to do so.
Phil Campbells helping Phil Campbell. It doesn't get much more simplistic than that, yet the weight of humanitarian care and support is immeasurable. "I'm With Phil" is the feel-good movie of the 2014 Heartland Film Festival.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yzdNXzEC94&w=560&h=315]