FINISHING UP KING OF KONG

The great screenwriting koan of the last 20 years has been: “How do you write a film based on a video game that anyone actually cares about?” From Tron to Doom, Hollywood is littered with the careers of writers who have tried and failed.  It seemed as impossible as hearing the sound of one hand clapping. Until King of Kong, A Fistful of Quarters. This movie – a documentary – delivers by sticking to story element basics. A solid all American Hero, Walter Day, a middle school science teacher from Seattle, is tired of being fortune’s punching bag so he decides to become the best at something that allows him total control – the 80s arcade game Donkey Kong. Alone in his garage, he attacks the game with all the Passion of Rocky training for his first title bout. The Antagonist, Billy Mitchel – the reigning Donkey Kong champ, and maker of some very dubious looking hot sauce, is the type of villain you love to hiss. Mitchel is not about to be dethroned without a fight. Mitchel tries every trick, dirty and otherwise, to keep his boot on upstart Day’s throat. Along the way we become Aware of the slightly sad, OCD laced world of video game addicts, and the contest gains context. When Day pulls off his come-from-behind win  - during the final credits no less - you find yourself actually cheering.