The title of the Starz Entertainment original documentary “Buy the Ticket, Take the Ride: Hunter S. Thompson on Film” gives the impression the film will explore how Thompson’s work was adapted for the big screen.

In reality, the 80-minute documentary, produced and directed by Tom Thurman, spends very little time doing that and instead focuses on the life, career and death of the legendary Gonzo journalist through the eyes and recollections of his Hollywood friends.

I admit to knowing very little about Hunter Thompson except what I’ve learned through his association with Johnny Depp. His public persona was one that I doubt I would have given a second thought otherwise - an outlandish figure, seemingly fueled by drugs and alcohol, crown prince of a counter-culture that had no real relevance to me. But perhaps the way to understand and appreciate a person you’ll never have the opportunity to meet yourself is through the people closest to him, and that is something this film does provide.

“Buy the Ticket, Take the Ride” is a walk through Thompson’s life and career, a mixture of still images and video footage interspersed with interviews of his widow, Anita Thompson, along with Johnny Depp, Sean Penn, Bill Murray, John Cusack, Benicio Del Toro, Tom Wolfe, George McGovern, William F. Buckley, Gary Busey, the late Ed Bradley and more.

Through them, you begin to see the person behind the image, a human being take shape from the caracature of perception - still an outlandish one, by any measure, but one who earned the respect and admiration of a solid and diverse group of friends.

The film also explores Thompson’s death in February of 2005, the highly-publicized suicide followed by the cannon-blast send-off he had planned for nearly 30 years. According to Johnny Depp, one of the first thoughts in his mind upon hearing the news of Thompson’s suicide was that he had to build a cannon - and he did. Rare footage of the event, however brief, does appear in this documentary.

Gary Busey’s segments are, frankly, rather tedious. Nick Nolte’s gravel-voiced narration borders on annoying, though it’s thankfully sparse enough to overlook the irritation. But hearing Johnny speak with genuine affection about a person he loves, and hearing the honest, heartfelt laughter as he recalls personal experiences… these things alone make it worth the price of the ticket.

“Buy the Ticket, Take the Ride” premieres Tuesday, Dec. 12 at 10 p.m. on Starz. TV Now lists subsequent showings on Starz Cinema 5 as follows:

Dec. 13: 1:15 a.m.; 12:05 p.m.; and 8:20 p.m.
Dec. 17: 5:30 p.m.
Dec. 21: 4:45 p.m. and 10:00 p.m.
Dec. 25: 11:15 a.m.
Dec. 30: 9:00 a.m.