Gamers

As a gamer, I can't say I like this film. Fact is, I down right hate it. I tried to watch it as open minded as possible, but when it gets down to it, it feels rather insulting to my social group.

To me, there are several reasons why.

1. The characters seem unnatural. I've met lots of players, of all different walks of life. I don't know any who act like any of the characters in the film. It's like the producers of the film have taken the worst aspects of the worst stereotypes and put them all into 5 people. Most gamers are rather social people, some with rather active lives.

2. The style doesn't work. The mockumentary style is ill suited to the subject matter of the film. An actual documentary on gamers would actually work better. While it is good looking (I.E. cleanly put together), it isn't very good.

3. The dialogue feels forced, unnatural. It also seems to lack any real world context. Gamers swear, I'll admit that, but we don't have Tourette's Syndrome.

4. The humor is lacking. While self-deprecating humor is a mainstay of my group and several other groups I've encountered, this is less self-deprecation, and more like toilet humor. Likewise, a large part of gamer humor is full of in-jokes and anecdotes, not toilet humor. Most gamers would balk at and shun anybody who made such jokes.

5. The biggest problem to me is basically this: Accuracy. I don't mean rules, but instead dynamics. Invariably, this film is going to be compared to the even lower budget films The Gamers and The Gamers: Dorkness Rising, both of which portray the players as actual people playing an actual game. The difference is, Gamers: The Movie presents a situation where you want to beat the players senseless vs. The Gamers, where you can say something like: "Huh, I know a guy like that... Yep, that's definitely like Gary."

Christopher Guest need not worry, his supreme hold on the Mockumentary sub-genre is not in trouble of being upstaged in the least especially not by this extremely unfunny jab at RPG-gamers. The jokes are beyond lame. Not enough substance to last the typical length of a (particularly rancid) SNL skit, much less the 87 atrocious minutes I waisted watching this drivel. The great William Katt (Greatest American Hero, House) deserves much MUCH better. One thing and one thing alone makes the fact that I saw this worth it in my mind and that's posting about it on here so hopefully just hopefully I'll save someone such a bad experience.

My Grade: D-

DVD Extras: 2 Audio commentaries; 7 interviews with various cast members; 4 deleted scenes; & theatrical trailer

DVD-Rom extras: 2 Wallpapers

Easter egg: Highlight the eye in the picture on the main menu for a short scene

This is absolutely not a terrible movie but you do need to be somewhat of a tabletop RPG fan. Further it helps if you have been around RPG enthusiasts, to help understand some of the social stigma that goes along with. The jokes are a bit goofy and some are just downright idiotic but you will laugh if you let yourself.

I gave it a 6 out of 10, a vote it deserves. Its not a carefully edited comedy, written by an army of comedy writers. Its a B film comedy produced for a niche market. Take it for what it is. There are some wonderful appearances by classic 80s actors and actresses. My gaming group and i have probably watched it three times together.

I saw this at the March 21st screening and really enjoyed it. The cast has terrific chemistry--think of the give and take between the three main characters in "Office Space" and you've got the vibe of the "Gamers" cast. Funny throughout with some great lines that are going to become inside catch phrases. Even if you never got involved with a role playing game, you know someone who has and you'll be able to relate. My nearly 20-year old son was sitting next to me on one side, my somewhat older boyfriend was sitting on the other side, and we all three laughed through the entire movie. Good luck getting distribution--the movie certainly deserves to be seen.

I just got this from Hollywood Video for $2 used. I had read it was really goofy and stupid, and yes it is. But it's also fun and if you like D&D or larping or even just the movie role models it's fun! It's a cheesy mockumentary about a group of men who have been role playing for over 20 years and are breaking a record by playing a D&D type game called Demons, Nymphs, and Dragons. The cursing is abundant, the humor is toilet, and I think you have to be at least semi nerdy to have a good time with this. It's definitely not a main stream movie that most would enjoy. But if you like a dirty Napolean Dynamite type humor then you may find something appealing. Much better than expected.