Seth Gordon’s documentary, King of Kong follows Steve Wiebe attempt to break the Donkey Kong high score record, but it could almost be a Will Ferrell film. It has a classic Ferrell ‘bad guy’ – reigning record holder Billy Mitchell – a man with a hot sauce empire, a collection of patriotic ties and a particularly lavish mullet. Mitchell set the record in 1982 with a score 874,300 and considers his gaming career as his greatest achievement – second to his family of course. Not surprisingly his wolfish hackles are raised when newbie Steve appears on the scene with his Jimmy Stewart persona and 1,006,600 high score videotape.
Steve is not the luckiest man – his band never made it, the baseball career stalled and when he tried becoming a Boeing lifer like his daddy, well, he got laid off. But he’s a like able guy with doting kids and a wife who will do anything for him – even travel across the country to see him take the crown in a live Donkey Kong challenge.
King of Kong is not without its controversies. But who knew the world of video gaming was so exciting? I would have never imagined a scene so fraught with accusation, pious behavior and rampant ego. Definitely one to check out.
No comments:
Post a Comment