Movies about finance can be difficult to translate to the big screen. The complicated terminology and history can feel overwhelming to those unfamiliar with that world. The GameStop stock short-squeeze is a prime example of this very thing. It’s a difficult subject to understand because it also helped dissect the structure of our financial institutions. Director Craig Gillespie’s (Lars and the Real Girl; I, Tonya; Cruella) latest film, Dumb Money, attempts to tell this important story entertainingly. Based on the book The Antisocial Network by Ben Mezrich, the story is a modern, timely, and relevant “David vs. Goliath” tale.

L-R: Shailene Woodley as Caroline Gill and Paul Dano as Keith Gill in DUMB MONEY. Photo courtesy of Sony Pictures.

Keith Gill (Paul Dano) is a middle-class working man living in Brockton, Massachusetts. During Keith’s downtime, he hosts YouTube live streams discussing the subreddit r/WallStreetBets. What Keith does not realize is the power his words have on his viewers and, more importantly, the financial world. Under the YouTube username Roaring Kitty, he starts a movement revolving around failing GameStop stocks and the eventual short squeeze. Set in the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the story follows the working man (America Ferrera, Anthony Ramos) and university students (Talia Ryder, and Myha’la Herrold) vs Wall Street officials (Seth Rogen, Sebastian Stan, Nick Offerman and Vincent D’Onofrio). The complexities of this world should not detract from the immense fun of the story.

L-R: Nick Offerman as Ken Griffin and Seth Rogen as Gabe Plotkin in DUMB MONEY. Photo courtesy of Sony Pictures.

Dumb Money’s biggest assets can be attributed to two entirely different factors. The first of which involves the talented cast Gillespie has assembled. Each actor gets to show another side to their abilities. Folks like Paul Dano (Swiss Army Man), Vincent D’Onofrio (The Cell), and Sebastian Stan (Fresh) get to show off more of their comedic chops. They help make this complicated knowledge easier to understand while delivering it entertainingly. Whereas someone like Seth Rogen (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem) helps to deliver more understated comedy. The range these performers show helps make the subject matter palatable. In some cases, certain performances outweigh others in terms of quality.

America Ferrera as Jenny in DUMB MONEY. Photo courtesy of Sony Pictures.

Pete Davidson (The King of Staten Island), Nick Offerman (Hearts Beat Loud), and Shailene Woodley (The Mauritanian) also co-star. While there is not a bad performance among these actors, their roles feel underwritten. They serve to be sorts of “bridges” that connect to the struggle of the main characters. Each performer is more or less a familiar face and never quite reaches the comedic and intense heights of the primary cast. That is due to the screenplay by first-time feature screenwriters Lauren Schuker Blum and Rebecca Angelo which, understandably, prioritizes certain characters over others. Some viewers may feel slighted by some actors getting meatier roles than others. That should not detract from the overall fun and excitement that Dumb Money has to offer.

Sebastian Stan as Vlad Tenev in DUMB MONEY. Photo courtesy of Sony Pictures.

Fans of the film should check out Dumb Money’s home release. Bonus features include the featurettes “Fat Cats vs The Roaring Kitty,” and “Diamond Hand Ensemble.” They are brief behind-the-scenes snippets that are quite entertaining. The problem is that those snippets offer limited glances into the filmmaking process. This release’s standout bonus feature is the filmmaker commentary by Gillespie. His insights into this story are informative and engaging to listen to. If there’s one reason to get the Blu-ray, then this commentary is the reason to do it.  For diehard fans of the film, this commentary is more than worth the Blu-ray price. For lukewarm fans, or those doing a blind buy, these bonus features will help enhance the experience.

L-R: Peter Davidson as Kevin Gill and Paul Dano as Keith Gill in DUMB MONEY. Photo courtesy of Sony Pictures.

Dumb Money is an exciting, funny, well-acted, and informative film. The cast helps to deliver this complex material in an accessible way. Don’t let the premise of this real-world event scare you. Director Craig Gillespie makes the story so engaging that viewers will be left wanting to learn more. If that premise intrigues you, then this home release should be on your Christmas list this holiday season.

Paul Dano as Keith Gill in DUMB MONEY. Photo courtesy of Sony Pictures.

This “David vs Goliath story is relatively unknown and deserves to be told.”  Being told in this entertaining package is a perfect way to deliver it to a mainstream audience. This piece of recent history is a perfect home release that covers all the necessities. It has an engaging cast and fun story, impressive bonus features, and a crystal clear picture quality. Complex financial information aside, Dumb Money’s home release is worth your time.

Dumb Money Special Features:

• Fat Cats vs. The Roaring Kitty
• Diamond Hand Ensemble
• Deleted Scenes
• Filmmaker Commentary
• Optional English, English SDH, French, and Spanish subtitles for the main feature

Available on VOD and digital November 7^th, 2023.
Available on Blu-ray and DVD December 12^th, 2023.

For more information, head to the official Sony Pictures Dumb Money website.

Categories: Home Release, Home Video, Recommendation, Reviews, streaming

Tags: America Ferrera, Anthony Ramos, based on a book, Based on a true story, Ben Mezrich, Craig Gillespie, Dumb Money, home release, home video, Lauren Schuker Blum, Nick Offerman, Paul Dano, Pete Davidson, Rebecca Angelo, Sebastian Stan, Seth Rogen, Shailene Woodley, Sony Pictures, The Antisocial Network, Vincent D’Onofrio