Louis Theroux's Weird Weekends

By James Poniewozik

In the 19th century Alexis de Tocqueville journeyed to America and thought he had the young nation figured out. But Tocqueville never tried out for a porno film. In this documentary series, English-raised Louis Theroux (son of novelist Paul) samples the strangest fruits of freedom, from pitching infomercials to breaking bread with right-wing survivalists. This sort of participational filmmaking can become cute or self-satisfied, but Theroux maintains a curious, never smug attitude, even toward the most bizarre colonists.

--J.P.