Review of The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters (2007) by Asif K — 22 Nov 2011

This film is essentially "Rocky" & "Karate Kid" (using both theme tunes to emphasise the point), not with boxing or martial art but with video games, and principally Donkey Kong. With this it sets a Perpetual under achiever, a bloke who's story as told by his family & most pathetically by his wife "a man who could of been, should of been, would of been, but never was.....until donkey kong!!! From here is followed a back story of his failures at school, sport, & finally engineering. However whilst unemployed he acquired a arcade machine with "donkey kong" on it, and broke all records going, que life achievement and euphoria.

In direct contrast in the red corner is the existing world champion "Billy Mitchell", the David Brent with a beard villain, who's ego and self love is far too prevalent, blissfully unaware of his nonsensical statements & own irrelevance. Where the challenger "Steve Wielee" is a likeable, hard working, loving family man, however hopeless he is or at least comes across.

Add to the mix a bunch of crazy hillbilly Americans who take video games far too seriously, back handed tactics and mind games, all leading to comic consequences & a enjoyable film throughout. The major weakness of the film is also its strength, the good vs evil battle, and the way it's been edited makes it appeared staged and cooked up for extra effect & extra humour, and you the viewer of being manipulated.