Dumb Money shines a light on the problems with the stock market and its flaws. The fact that these true events just occurred are both a pro and a con.
Dumb Money tells the true story about the GameStop stock fiasco that started in 2020. When a popular YouTuber, Roaring Kitty, decided to create videos about why he was investing in the stock, and how he felt he could make a lot of money from it, others around the country joined in. Things ended up getting out of control when billionaires feel that their fortune in threatened, and a David vs. Goliath story is born.
Note: This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Dumb Money would not exist without the labor of the writers and actors in both unions.
These real life events occurred three years ago, meaning they are fresh in the heads of a lot of people. This is both a positive thing and a negative thing in regards to Dumb Money. To some, it might feel like why do we need to retell these events that literally just happened. Others will find it interesting to learn the ins and outs of it all, and details they didn’t know about it. One thing is for sure, the cast absolutely crushes their roles, allowing you to care about the people you are supposed to root for, and hate the people you are supposed to hate.
Paul Dano plays Keith Gill, the man, the myth, the legend — Roaring Kitty himself. Without a great actor in this role, the movie never works. Dano is fantastic, bringing a humanity and heart to Keith that makes it near impossible not to like him. There is a reason so many people trusted this man with their money, and held tight on GameStop stock when he said they should — Paul Dano exudes that confidence and likability, too.
It didn’t take long for this to turn more into a social experiment than a means of making money — at least for most people. Once they started to hit the one percenters where it hurt — their wallets — it almost became an addiction for some. Forget about the money they could make, it was more about forcing billionaires to lose for once.
These billionaires are played by Vincent D’Onofrio, Seth Rogen, and Nick Offerman. Each and every one of them is brilliant in this film. They make it very easy to hate them. All three do a great job of acting like they are above everyone else, and like they deserve everything the world has to offer them. Without villains you love to hate, Dumb Money wouldn’t work.
This is why they cast is a large part of why the movie works so well, even though it is rehashing events that occurred very recently. Anthony Ramos, America Ferrera, and Peter Davidson are other honorable mentions. Davidson and Ramos deliver the majority of the comedic relief that is needed to keep things light every once in a while, and Ferrera brings a lot of the heart. She is easy to fall in love with and root for.
Because this all happened during the pandemic, there are a lot of elements of that weaved into the movie. Peter Davidson’s character is a DoorDash employee, nearly everyone is wearing masks in public, and they even discuss those who have been lost due to COVID. While it is nice that they didn’t just breeze over this stuff, it does feel a little bit like PTSD considered we all just went through it — and it wasn’t the greatest of times.
Before the credits roll at the end of Dumb Money, the audience is treated to an update on the real life people and where they are now. This ties everything together in a neat little bow. While many know about the GameStop stock rising to insane heights, getting the full details on how and why this occurred is entertaining and interesting. It feels as if we are learning something, but in a fun way.
This movie is funny at times, heartfelt at others, and always interesting. The on point pacing and shorter runtime allow it to fly by and never drag. Thanks to the talented actors and smart writing, Dumb Money is a must watch.
Rating: 4 out of 5
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About Dumb Money
Dumb Money is the ultimate David vs. Goliath tale, based on the insane true story of everyday people who flipped the script on Wall Street and got rich by turning GameStop (yes, the mall videogame store) into the world’s hottest company. In the middle of everything is regular guy Keith Gill (Paul Dano), who starts it all by sinking his life savings into the stock and posting about it. When his social posts start blowing up, so does his life and the lives of everyone following him. As a stock tip becomes a movement, everyone gets rich – until the billionaires fight back, and both sides find their worlds turned upside down.
Dumb Money also stars Pete Davidson, Vincent D’Onofrio, America Ferrera, Nick Offerman, Anthony Ramos, Sebastian Stan, Shailene Woodley and Seth Rogen. Directed by Craig Gillespie, written by Lauren Schuker Blum & Rebecca Angelo, based on the book “The Antisocial Network” by Ben Mezrich.
Dumb Money comes exclusively to movie theaters September 22.
Tessa Smith is a Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer-approved Film and TV Critic. She is also a Freelance Writer. Tessa has been in the Entertainment writing business for ten years and is a member of several Critics Associations including the Critics Choice Association and the Greater Western New York Film Critics Association.