I have occasionally watched the television show "Catfish" on MTV. In case you don't know, the premise involves the host, Nev, who visits people who are in intense online relationships with people they have never met. He and is partner do a little sleuthing and try to get answers. They talk on the phone with the person and track down lies. Then they go visit the deceiver with the deceived and all hell breaks loose. There are a few happy ending where people were telling the truth. But usually it's a bizarre person completely lying about their gender, age, weight, personality, etc.

It is best watched in large groups of friends with a couple beers. Judgements come hard and fast and quickly devolves into a "OOOOOOOOHHHH WOW!!! SHE'S A MAN! OMG IT'S A MAN!" fest very quickly. Girls pretend to be guys. Guys pretend to be gay. It's weird. We talk to the host, the deceiver, the deceived as if they can hear us. "You're stupid. You are stupid. You haven't even video chatted with him? And you are going to live in Alabama with him!? STUPID!"

I caught Catfish the movie yesterday while digesting leftover Thanksgiving and was actually quite surprised with how good it was. The movie is Nev's own story about how a cute penpal relationship with a 9 year old girl evolved into a steamy text/phone relationship with her older sister. He notices a few things that were off and after a bit of googling he realizes it's all a lie. His friends being true friends realize the awesome opportunity in this to make an epic film instead of a cute one and so they keep going with the lies. Eventually they surprise visit the family and find out how big of a lie it is.

It's so much more than a guy or girl getting screwed like the television show is. It is a mystery and a look at a complex woman and her manipulation and endless stream of lies. There are so many questions - some answered and some not. We were enthralled and didn't yell or scream or react in nearly the same way.

About halfway through I started becoming extremely bothered that the story sounded familiar. Finally, I tracked it down to this "This American Life" story. Similarly it involves art, disabled children, lies and deceit. An excellent listen and the perfect pairing with Catfish the movie. Enjoy.