I wouldn’t say I’m a fan of documentaries… but I can’t say I don’t like them either. Given the choice, however, I’m much more likely to pick an action adventure. But who could pass up a story with a likable underdog, down on his luck and fighting against the establishment for recognition?
King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters tells the story of an out of work guy from Seattle who decides to beat the world record score for Donkey Kong. The documentary follows his progress as he strives to take the crown from a champion who, it seems, may not deserve it.
Steve Wiebe isn’t your average gamer, he’s attractive, was a jock and has a beautiful family. When Steve looses his job he decides to focus his competitive energy on something he can do from home, while caring for his children: beat a world record on a classic video game. When he wades into the world of competitive video games, populated with… well… people who weren’t jocks, it’s almost like high school all over again, only this time, the geeks have the upper hand. Can Steve prevail? Watch and find out, you never can tell how it may end.
My rating: worth the cost of a rental and the time to watch it.