'Dumb Money' Review: This Financial Fiasco Drama Is Both Funny and Flimsy [TIFF 23]
The Recent adaptation of the insane true story is A timely Blast, but Also gets lost amidst its chaotic nature
Director Craig Gillespie is no stranger to adapting various true stories into films and television. In fact, Dumb Money marks his third crack at such an adaptation in this half of the decade alone. Dumb Money marks the newest feature film entry from the renowned Australian journeyman, which is adapted from the book, “The Anti-Social Network”, by Ben Mezrich, which chronicles the unprecedented rise and fall of GameStop shares during the earlier days of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dumb Money, as an adaptation, feels both timely, and too soon. The film depicts the rise and fall of the stock through several intersecting character subplots, with the incredible Paul Dano as the film’s lead, playing Keith Gill. Gill is most known for his online persona, “Roaring Kitty”, a live-streamer who discusses finance, and is the first one to spearhead the makeshift ‘Dumb Money’ campaign, by calling attention to the under-valued GameStop shares, which eventually sparks a massive Reddit movement, shaking Wall Street to its core.
Through ‘Roaring Kitty’ livestreams, we meet various members of the film’s electric and unlikely ensemble. Dumb Money’s ensemble is an embarassment of riches, and frankly the best thing the film has going for it. The large ensemble features perspectives of everyday, working class people with debts and bills to pay, who gain a key financial advantage in their turbulent times with the GameStop stock, as well as the gradual demise of the rich finance executives and hedge-fund holders who look down on the movement.
The overall rhythm of the film is quite solid, clocking in at a brisk 104 minutes, never really dragging, opting to embrace the frantic, chaotic nature of the story, while also covering a lot of ground, leaving audiences with a suffice film, some good laughs, and presenting an evergreen message with a new modern context. Gillespie’s veteran craftsmanship keeps a sturdy hand on the film as a whole, with the sprawling structure of the film never feeling too jarring, but the voyage is not without its slight turbulence.
While not as heavy on the direct financial logistics as other finance biopics such as something along the lines of ‘The Big Short’, the film manages to be very accessible and rather simple to follow for viewers who may not be the most financially literate. Dumb Money also acknowledges the unprecedented nature and leans into the chaos of it all, but perhaps too much. While there are great comedic moments all-throughout, with Pete Davidson and Anthony Ramos standing out as comedic highlights, the film often loses its sense of purpose by frequently indulging in compilations of cringe-worthy Reddit memes, TikTok videos and questionable song choices that distract from the central plot far too often. Many of the scenes featuring the hedge-fund execs and ‘finance-bros’ like Seth Rogen, Sebastian Stan, and Nick Offerman also fall flat until the film reaches its climax and the performances gain more meaning and payoff.
The film is at its best when it’s at its most introspective, when the ‘underdog’ nature is allowed to be explored even further. Paul Dano and Shailene Woodley share many scenes where they contemplate what this newfound financial advantage means for them as a struggling family within the pandemic, and scenes such as these are where the film feels at its strongest. America Ferrera’s turn as a struggling nurse whose dire situation gains a glimpse of hope through the grassroots finance movement. Luckily, there is a suffice number of these scenes which bolster the film as a whole. Nonetheless, the film’s message is evergreen, and its ensemble is more than enough to carry a well-enough put together film to being a good time.