Review of The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters (2007) by Andy B — 22 Sep 2009

"The King of Kong" is a documentary about a guy named Billy Mitchell who happens to hold the world record for the highest score on the classic arcade game King Kong, and a newcomer by the name of Steve Wiebe who is trying to take the title from Billy.

Doesn't sound like much, right? I know, it didn't to me either. I mean, who really cares about a couple of guys battling it out to get the highest score on an ancient arcade game? Well, I'll tell you who.

.. me. "The King of Kong" is a near perfect film. It's a real life telling of the age old tale of the underdog and It's a movie that manages to pull you in and make you care about these people and yes, believe it or not, care about their Donkey Kong scores.

You aren't going to find a better villain in any movie last year than you're going to find in Billy Mitchell. Everything about him is greasy. He's like a Wendy's hamburger covered in a pound of thick cheese that's floating in a cup of the grease used to fry up their freedom fries.

He's greasy, jerky, has an ego larger than his oversized head can contain and you'll find yourself wanting nothing more than to see the mild mannered two-time loser of an underdog Wiebe get the better of him and take him down a few pegs.

"The King of Kong" is a well made, well produced, totally engaging film that will make you laugh, and think and cheer, and it's the kind of wonderfully weird little story that you can only find in real life.

If you're thinking "eh, video games aren't really my thing" put that idea out of your head and give this one a try because at its heart, this isn't a film about Donkey Kong scores.

.. it's a film about people. It's a film about redemption, and strength, and family, and it's a film that's more than worth the seventy-nine minutes of your laying on the couch time it will take you to watch it.

(Plus it's funny to laugh at dorks. It's got that also.).