Gamers

I saw this at the March 21st screening and really enjoyed it. The cast has terrific chemistry--think of the give and take between the three main characters in "Office Space" and you've got the vibe of the "Gamers" cast. Funny throughout with some great lines that are going to become inside catch phrases. Even if you never got involved with a role playing game, you know someone who has and you'll be able to relate. My nearly 20-year old son was sitting next to me on one side, my somewhat older boyfriend was sitting on the other side, and we all three laughed through the entire movie. Good luck getting distribution--the movie certainly deserves to be seen.

I picked up this movie in the hope it would be similar to the hilarious "The Gamers" by Dead Gentlemen Productions (which is highly recommendable, by the way). Boy, what a disappointment! The movie is shot in this fake documentary style made famous by the office but it fails to deliver. The reason is partly the stiff acting but mostly the writing and directing. True, it can be funny to use every singe cliché there is about role playing games, but here it is done in such a way that it becomes extremely predictable. Already at the beginning of each scene you know what the "joke" will be about. But maybe the biggest problem is that everything is depicted way over the top. There is no subtlety in this movie, if there would be captions "LAUGH NOW" or a cheap 80s-style fake-laughter track it would not make much difference. With some scenes you can't help to think "Yea, I get why they thought this would be funny" but the way it is executed takes all momentum out of the possible joke.

Christopher Guest need not worry, his supreme hold on the Mockumentary sub-genre is not in trouble of being upstaged in the least especially not by this extremely unfunny jab at RPG-gamers. The jokes are beyond lame. Not enough substance to last the typical length of a (particularly rancid) SNL skit, much less the 87 atrocious minutes I waisted watching this drivel. The great William Katt (Greatest American Hero, House) deserves much MUCH better. One thing and one thing alone makes the fact that I saw this worth it in my mind and that's posting about it on here so hopefully just hopefully I'll save someone such a bad experience.

My Grade: D-

DVD Extras: 2 Audio commentaries; 7 interviews with various cast members; 4 deleted scenes; & theatrical trailer

DVD-Rom extras: 2 Wallpapers

Easter egg: Highlight the eye in the picture on the main menu for a short scene

I just got this from Hollywood Video for $2 used. I had read it was really goofy and stupid, and yes it is. But it's also fun and if you like D&D or larping or even just the movie role models it's fun! It's a cheesy mockumentary about a group of men who have been role playing for over 20 years and are breaking a record by playing a D&D type game called Demons, Nymphs, and Dragons. The cursing is abundant, the humor is toilet, and I think you have to be at least semi nerdy to have a good time with this. It's definitely not a main stream movie that most would enjoy. But if you like a dirty Napolean Dynamite type humor then you may find something appealing. Much better than expected.

Wow! I saw the first screening of this movie and think it's amazing! I can't wait to see it again! Writer/director Christopher Folino has brought the seemingly underground world of RPG gaming mainstream. No need for any previous knowledge of the subject - This movie will thoroughly entertain everybody from those who have never even heard of role playing games all the way to the Dungeon Masters.

Did I mention it's absolutely hilarious!!!? Not just funny, but choking on your popcorn and spraying Dr. Pepper out your nose kinda funny! Gamers pushes the envelope as far as what some sensitive viewers may find offensive, but Folino and company found a way to make the audience laugh so hard at it that nobody cared. I was worried the funniest parts might have been used up in the preview... Well if that were the case, the preview would have to be 83 minutes long!

I could have sworn this movie was typecast. But I checked it out and these are real actors with REAL resume's. Most indie films aren't acted this well. If I were to knock anything I might suggest washing the windows on the cars for those scenes (even if it IS a "mockumentary" style film) and it needs a couple of minor audio fixes.

Outside of that, I thought it was funnier than anything I've seen, including the blockbusters The 40 Year Old Virgin and Wedding Crashers both - only with no dead spots for you to leave and use the bathroom. You're likely to already have peed your pants by then anyhow!

~Tom

P.S. I had no part in the making of this movie and gain nothing, financially or otherwise, for writing this. It is truly a great film!