Title – Dumb Money (2023) 

Director – Craig Gillespie (Lars and the Real Girl) 

Cast – Paul Dano, Shailene Woodley, Pete Davidson, Nick Offerman, America Ferrera, Seth Rogen 

Plot – Self-made online stock commentator Keith Gill (Dano) leads a collection of everyday blue collar workers in a Covid based rally to turn Gamestop into one of the hottest companies in the world of online trading, alarming Wall Street and changing peoples lives forever. 

“I like the stock”

Review by Eddie on 08/11/2023

I’m sure I speak for many when I say the years 2020 and 2021 didn’t gift us a lot of enjoyable memories/moments thanks to our old friend Covid-19 but a moment in time that seemingly took over the world and gave us all something to enjoy was the Gamestop vs Wall Street stock craze that become an instant all-time moment in the finance space, a moment that has with Craig Gillespie’s Dumb Money become one of the years more enjoyable, if undeniably light cinematic events. 

Taking on board a similar tone to his breakout hit I, Tonya and taking more than it’s fair share of inspiration from the likes of The Big Short and Wolf of Wall Street, Dumb Money shines a light on the true story of recreational finance Youtuber and internet personality Keith Gill aka Roaring Kitty, a man who against all the odds seemingly rallied a collection of everyday blue collar workers to buy into the what he saw as undervalued Gamestop stocks, a rally that had Wall Street and hedge fund managers squirming in their freshly polished boots, as many of them had betted large sums of money on Gamestop to soon close up shop. 

At a relatively brisk 100 minute running time and following a large collection of players both real and fictional, the Australian born Gillespie doesn’t always allow his characters or the at times rather complicated narrative (a certain amount of Wall Street/stock market knowledge is important to ones enjoyment of this tale) the time the respective components needed to have made Dumb Money something more than an entertaining diversion but with a quickly moving pace and a rare lead turn from the always great Paul Dano, Dumb Money still comes out on top. 

So often relegated to the supporting player or the scene stealer, Dano gets some rare time to hog the spotlight as the seemingly uncomplicated Gill, a family man who “just likes the stock” and the feline loving long haired nerd allows Dano to once more prove that he’s one of the most talented and watchable actors plying their trade today and whether Gill is speaking to Ballz on his Youtube channel or reporting to congress on his role in the whole Gamestop saga, Dano is the films clear MVP. 

Ably supported by the likes of Shailene Woodley as Gills supportive partner Caroline, Pete Davidson as Gill’s Doordashing brother Kevin, America Ferrera as hardworking nurse Jenny and Seth Rogen as the tennis loving millionaire Gabe Plotkin, there’s a lot of likeable, if not exactly deeply mined talent on board supporting Dano and Gillespie’s cause and while you do wish there was more of a lasting impression made by this film, as a crowd-pleaser, Dumb Money is a sure bet. 

Final Say – 

A fun if not exactly top of the class examination of the Gamestop stock story, Dumb Money is an easy and enjoyable watch with a great chance to see a rare Paul Dano lead turn, as well as Seth Rogen running through a hedge to the dulcet tones of WAP. 

3 1/2 wizard cats out of 5