Dumb Money

Never seen a Made for TV movie in a theatre before, but that's what this feels like. Maybe it has a lot to do with the events this movie being about not even being three years old and already getting such a detailed movie.

I have to admit, the shakeup of Wall Street definitely was worth talking about and I have to say this movie did a better job of explaining the whole story than the documentary Game Stop: Rise of the Players.

Despite speaking with some of the real people Rise of the Players did not have the heart needed to get me to understand the numbers of exactly how these guys did it.

So, for teaching me that, I love it. It's a mediocre movie but everyone loves an underdog story, and this is a great one!

The true story of The GameStop shares, how everyday people, detached from Wall Street turned the tables, and sent an Earthquake through the establishment.

If you recently watched Gran Turismo, it's a similar sort of film, the everyday people taking on the elite, the establishment, only this time, someone dares to take on The big money traders, the investors, those that play with money.

I wasn't sure initially, but it opens up and develops into a good film, it's a story of David Vs Goliath, a triumph over adversity....only the odds are naturally stacked in favour of The Financiers.

It was wonderful to get to see the real faces at the end, it brought home that this was actually based on a true story, crazy to believe it actually happened.

They did not hold back when it came to exposing the rotten system, the various bailouts that have happened several times over, with public money.

Paul Dano was great I thought here, a subtle, understated performance, Seth Rogan very good also, always good to see him in a serious role, that scene where he played out his speech, brilliant.

A surprisingly good movie.

7/10.

I'm no prude but the music in this film for the story and genre seemed so strange , I mean it's a potential film you'd see with parents as I did, then within minutes you got lyrics about a wap (accidentally went to subtitled one to which made it worse). It just seemed so out of place.

The acting was good, I like Davidson when he's scaled down a bit, when he's to over the top he's annoying and a tough act to enjoy but he worked here.

The lad I'm GameStop was another cringe part, twice singing that song from Megan the horse, it was just a bit meh.

The film would've been better a tad more serious without the silly music choices.

Even with its admirable intentions, in its writing, Dumb Money is, well, dumb. It's incessantly preachy and shallow, clinically moving from plot point to plot point while never examining any of its characters or happenings beneath the surface level.

Granted, it doesn't necessarily need to. But it also doesn't present its scant narrative with enough style to make it compulsively watchable.

Still, I found it impossible to dislike this movie. It tells the populist story that united everyone-right, left, and center-for a brief moment of euphoric social harmony. How can I not get wrapped up in reliving all that?

Most of the cast brings charisma to their characters that was not on the page, and they are what is compelling about this film. That, and, even though the script has a dearth of insight, it's funny. It had loads of fast-paced dry wit that make it tough to not smile throughout.

The performers and the humour really saved this movie, and though I don't think it'll have the impact the filmmakers were hoping for, it's a solidly good time. Just don't take it too seriously.

I went into this not knowing a massive amount about the GameStop stuff.

I think the film does well in showing the story but only from a high level. It doesn't go into too much detail of certain decisions or certain character arcs but I think it's good enough. However, I do think this film came out too soon considering the events only happened in 2020/21. Feel like if it came out a few years later it would have been better.

Saying all that, I think it was well acted, had a few funny moments and music choice was good.

It's not Oscar worthy by any means but it's still an enjoyable watch especially if you don't know much about the true story.