Review #1067: The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters.
Cast:
Steve Wiebe, Billy Mitchell, Walter Day, Robert Mruczek, Brian Kuh, Steve Sanders, Dwayne Richard, Roy Shildt, Todd Rogers, Greg Bond, and Doris Self. Directed by Seth Gordon (#772 - Four Christmases)
Review:
This happens to be a rare occasion for Movie Night, a documentary film. This is only the second time I've done a documentary review, with the first being Life Itself (#690). The fact that it has been over a decade since this film was released has meant that there has been a few developments in the lives of some of the people in this movie (along with some bonus footage) - but I'll try to focus on the product as it was originally done in 2007.
How does one talk about a documentary like this, where at one point one person talks about how one has to pay to price in order to etch their name to a world record, particularly one such as Donkey Kong, which is a fairly interesting game in its own right? One particular favorite moment of mine is when Wiebe's daughter comments on the Guinness World Record Book and the people in it: "Some people sort of ruin their lives to be in there." Stuff like that helps define the film into more than just a blind pursuit. In a world where any type of thing can be a competition (spelling bees, bagging contests, and even sudoku), I suppose that this film can fit the bill of stories that merit a watch - with the enjoyment level depending on how invested one gets in the subject matter of Donkey Kong. I can say that I found some enjoyment from it, as it managed to present itself in an entertaining but useful manner that made itself seem necessary to exist and not something made for laughs. It presents an assortment of interesting people - whether it's a teacher and would be musician and challenger for the record (Wiebe), or a man who in his day job owns a restaurant chain and sells hot sauce while parading his fame for his Donkey Kong record, among other records (Mitchell), or even a man that (I kid you not) goes by a nickname of "Mr. Awesome" (Shildt, in a minor role). Whatever the case, the film shows the strange nature of what it really means to go for as weird as the high score on Donkey Kong. The film certainly runs well enough at 79 minutes, managing to not feel boring or stretching its material out for too long. The movie isn't one that will work for everyone (mostly because of the fact that it is about a video game record, which seem like low stakes), but it manages to have a compelling entertainment value that certainly fits the mold for watchability, because the people showcased are useful enough to want to follow their story, for the most part. Wiebe seems to a fine humble guy to follow, and Mitchell's self-serving but confident manner is also useful to watch, with Day also seeming to be interesting to listen to. The rest of the people in the movie are also useful to watch in their own ways, such as Self, who was the world's oldest video game champion, with her record high score being on Q*bert and her attempt to try and get the record back. Shildt is a strange yet memorable highlight that certainly invites questions over what it means to pursue fame. There is something to be watched in a movie that sparks emotion of anxiety, along with a touch of jealousy in something as odd yet compulsively entertaining in its obsession that certainly makes for an interesting product. Is it anything great? I wouldn't say that necessarily, but I would say that it is at least a thing worth mentioning. No matter how you watch the movie (or play the game), this is one that I can recommend.
Overall, I give it 8 out of 10 stars.
