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Becoming Bond is a 2017 biographical drama that follows the incredible life story of George Lazenby, the actor who played James Bond only once in the 1969 film On Her Majesty's Secret Service. Directed by Josh Greenbaum and written by Josh Lawson, the film is a blend of dramatizations, interviews, and archive footage that recreates the highs and lows of Lazenby's journey from a car mechanic to a global movie star to a recluse.

The film opens with Lazenby (played by Josh Lawson) breaking the fourth wall and introducing himself as a one-hit wonder who is going to tell his own story. He then transports us to his humble beginnings in Australia, where he grew up as a rebellious youth who loved fighting, shagging, and impressing girls. With his good looks, charm, and wit, Lazenby quickly realizes that he could use his talents in sales to achieve his dreams of wealth and fame.

Through a series of wild adventures and lucky breaks, Lazenby hops from one job to another, from selling cars to modeling to acting. Along the way, he meets a slew of colorful characters, including a gay photographer who becomes his mentor, a horny producer who tries to seduce him, and a beautiful Italian countess named Belinda (played by Kassandra Clementi) who steals his heart.

It's the relationship with Belinda that forms the emotional core of the movie. Despite their different backgrounds and lifestyles, Lazenby and Belinda fall madly in love and decide to get married. However, their happiness is short-lived when Lazenby lands the role of James Bond and realizes that it could ruin their marriage. Belinda tells him that if he does the movie, she will leave him, and Lazenby has to choose between his art and his love.

The scenes that depict Lazenby's audition and preparation for the role of Bond are some of the most entertaining and insightful moments of the film. As a non-actor with no formal training or experience, Lazenby had to improvise and bluff his way through the auditions, pretending to be a martial artist, a skier, and a horse rider. He also had to learn how to wear a suit, drive an Aston Martin, and deliver one-liners without sounding wooden or clichéd.

Through a mix of sheer luck, talent, and audacity, Lazenby manages to land the role and becomes an instant sensation. The film showcases the glamorous side of his life as Bond, with scenes of him shooting exotic locations, flirting with women, and attending premieres. However, it also reveals the darker side of his experience, such as the pressure he faced from the studio to conform to the Bond image, the paranoia he developed about being replaced by Sean Connery, and the guilt he felt about lying to his wife and friends.

The film balances these various tones and moods with humor, satire, and self-awareness. The dramatizations are often tongue-in-cheek, with some scenes played for laughs or absurdity. For example, there is a hilarious sequence in which Lazenby imagines himself in a Bond-like fantasy, complete with a shark tank, a tuxedo, and a theme song. There are also some clever meta-references to other Bond movies, such as Goldfinger and Casino Royale.

The interviews with the real Lazenby and his co-stars, friends, and family members provide an additional layer of authenticity and perspective to the film. Lazenby himself is a charming and candid storyteller, who is happy to share his secrets and regrets with the audience. He also appears in some mockumentary-style scenes, commenting on his own life events and breaking the fourth wall again.

The supporting cast of the film is also noteworthy, particularly Kassandra Clementi as Belinda. She brings a delicate mix of intelligence, beauty, and vulnerability to the role, and her chemistry with Lawson is palpable. Other notable performances include Jane Seymour as a Bond girl and Jeff Garlin as Lazenby's manager.

Overall, Becoming Bond is an engaging, funny, and heartwarming film that offers a fresh perspective on the world of James Bond and the life of George Lazenby. It's an underrated gem that deserves to be seen by fans of Bond, biopics, and comedy-dramas alike.

Becoming Bond is a 2017 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 35 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.5 and a MetaScore of 65.