Neil Garguilo's indie feature doc Misfit Mentor introduces us to Jamie Egan, a New Jersey elementary school whom we meet on his last day as a teacher and in what will be his final orchestral performance. 

We instantly like Egan, whose warm and winning personality fits well with his passion for teaching children. Egan is a guy who's often given of himself, living in the background while those around him chase their dreams. From a regular gig in one of his student's bands to his family life, Egan isn't necessarily the kind of guy you expect to see featured in a documentary. 

Of course, there's more.

Misfit Mentor introduces us to a Jamie Egan in transition. His longtime partner, Julie, has passed away after a long illness. Now, Egan himself has retired and has begun restructuring his life into his own chasing of dreams and still raising the family he shared with Julie. 

It's perhaps not quite a surprise when we learn that there's turbulence underneath Jamie's facade, his childhood abuse at least partly explaining his passion for mentoring and protecting kids. It's that childhood, perhaps, that drives Jamie even as we slowly see him grow into who he's always wanted to be and the challenges he faces along that journey. While he initially seems confident and bold, he's initially guarded and it's tremendous watching how Garguilo's camera helps him peel away the masks and live more honestly in his own skin. 

Misfit Mentor is a lovely film about a lovely guy at the point where he may be discovering who he is and how he wants to live whatever life he has yet. Sometimes, the most effective docs are those that give us a glimpse inside an ordinary dude living an ordinary life who gets the chance to do something special. Released by Magenta Edge Films, Misfit Mentor is worth checking out via your usual streaming platforms. 

Written by Richard Propes
The Independent Critic