Dumb Money is Dumb Fun
Charlie von Peterffy / Emertainment Monthly Staff Writer
Dumb Money is a hefty, humorous, and decently crafted comedy focusing on a tense moment of class conflict led by a satirically geeky performance by Paul Dano and several other big names. The film may feel a bit aimless and overly straightforward at times, but it is nonetheless a heart-filled criticism of capitalism and class division.
Based on the real GameStop stock explosion in early 2021, Dumb Money follows Keith Gill (Dano), a Brockton-based, struggling financial analyst who enjoys stocks. Gill presents his stock exchanges and personal gains and losses in videos streamed from the Reddit username Roaring Kitty. He noticed that GameStop’s stock was down in June 2020 and devoted his life savings to buying GameStop stock. After learning that several hedge fund investment firms are assuming the franchise will close and are short-selling stock, Gill uses his platform to encourage average people to buy GameStop stock to make money from these firms, essentially taking money from the rich and giving it to the poor. This results in a tumultuous battle between the firms and the new GameStop investors, leading to a court case where Gill has to defend his actions as legally just. Dumb Money is a film of class conflict, majority rule encouragement, and an eat-the-rich mentality with witty appeal.
The story here amusingly expresses liberating themes of majority rule and financial takeover, but it doesn’t map the entire story or consistently deliver its comedic aims. Instead of focusing entirely on Gill or the impact of GameStop’s stock bumps, the film focuses on a long list of characters to convey their financial destitution or struggles. While this technique mainly works, the transitions between characters and the larger story are often executed through forced comedy or blatantly obvious symbolism. This disrupts the otherwise organic pace of the film, making it hard to stay interested or follow along consistently. Plus, as the filmmakers had no contact with the real Keith Gill, most of what is shown comes from less direct sources. The story still seems plausible, but less so because of this disconnect.
The actors are spontaneous, well-rounded, and emotionally grounded. Dano does an impeccable job. Co-stars like America Ferrera, who plays struggling nurse Jennifer Gill, Shailene Woodley, who plays Keith’s wife Caroline, and Seth Rogen, who plays real-life GameStop short seller Gabe Plotkin, all bring humanity and distinction to their roles. Their work helps to solidify these events as real, with genuine reaction and surprise spicing up every scene. The characters themselves are great. Each one is written well enough for viewers to either root for them or hate them without exception. Their roles as working-class ordinaries or snobby, selfish CEOs come through exactly as they should, with the film’s comedic energy further degrading or boosting each person’s appeal.
The visuals are also excellent. While nothing is inventive here, the filmmakers fill the screens with diverse sets and costumes to differentiate people’s lives. Without telling the viewer, the difference between millionaires (villains) and the working class (heroes) is apparent in every shot, from the iron-pressed clothing and wide-open spaces of the rich to the baggy clothes and cramped ordinariness of the not-rich.
Overall, Dumb Money is a funny finance flick showing how getting revenge on the elites is possible. While it may be very disjointed, occasionally forced, and not entirely accurate, its core themes and amusing approach, combined with stellar star power, make it more than meaningful enough to pass the time. For comedy enthusiasts and those needing a lighthearted yet substantive watch, this film will probably please.