SLIFF 2022 | MOVIE REVIEW: Fun Is What "Pinball" Was Made For
9/12 ForReel Score | 4/5 Stars
Although you may not have been aware of it, it was once illegal to play pinball. Several states prohibited the use of the machines for as many as 35 years, including the state of New York. Pinball: The Man Who Saved the Game tells the true story of Roger Sharpe as he attempts to overturn the ban on the game he loves.
To give you some history, when the first coin-operated pinball machine was created during the Great Depression in 1931, the game was viewed as a menace to society. Prior to the introduction of flippers in 1947, pinball was a considerably different game in that the player had little control over the gameplay, making it a game of luck. It was common to gamble on games and the operators gave out a variety of prizes, from free games to gum and even jewelry. It was argued by schools and churches that the game corrupted children's morals by encouraging them to steal coins, skip school, and even go hungry due to such frivolous spending. It was alleged that pinball was used to steal money from children by the mafia, which in the end led to the ban in the early 40s.
From here, Pinball picks up on the story of Roger Sharpe, our protagonist who came to love the game during his college years at the University of Wisconsin where it was still legal to play. At that time in that state, pinball machines populated many of the local bars and bowling alleys, so he could play anytime he went out on the town. Upon graduation though, Sharpe moves to New York where he struggles to find pinball machines anywhere. That is, until one day when he hears the distinctive ringing and chiming of his beloved recreational game, which draws him to an adult bookstore that has pinball machines up front. Sharpe made a daily habit of stopping in to play the machines on his commute to and from work. When he finds the games have been confiscated by the local police, Sharpe is compelled to do something about the ban.
Brothers and writer/director duo Austin and Meredith Bragg (A Piece of Cake) are well aware of how silly this story sounds and play into the campiness of it. Similar to the film I, Tonya, Pinball toggles between the narrative, with Mike Faist (West Side Story) as young Rodger, and faux-documentary interviews with Dennis Boutsikaris (Better Call Saul) playing older Rodger. Boutsikaris continuously breaks the fourth wall in order to tell the audience how it really went down.
While the game of pinball is the focal point of the film, the story diverges considerably from its original plot to focus on Roger's budding relationship with single mother Ellen (Crystal Reed, Swamp Thing). It is a cute love story that keeps the audience engaged while also adding a touch of drama to the narrative. We fall in love with Roger as he spends more time with Ellen and her son Seth (Christopher Convery, Gotham), becoming increasingly more invested in his story. It's hard not to be enchanted by the tender moments they share during a father-son bowling match. During the their time together, Roger emphasizes the importance of having fun over winning the game. Additionally, the film contains a number of valuable lessons regarding the responsibilities associated with dating someone who has children.
Despite enjoying the majority of the film, I can’t deny that my attention was constantly drawn to how fake Mike Faist's mustache looked. The length would change throughout the film and many times you could see it close to coming off. The Bragg brothers know how laughable it looks, but the real Roger Sharpe had a mustache just as ridiculous, so they wrote a lot of pointed jokes referencing it. I found most to be pretty funny but not enough to forgive the poorly applied lace front mustache.
The Braggs may not achieve the highest score in documentary presentations this year with Pinball, but they certainly rank high on my scoreboard, demonstrating that the quality of their production is derived from skill, not luck. To its favor, the film focuses on being a feel-good family comedy, rather than trying to act as a dramatic legal battle. Although the audience is well aware of what is going to happen - that pinball will ultimately be legalized - the final act still feels triumphant. As in life, the most important lesson learned from pinball is that it's not about achieving the highest score, but about enjoying your time in the process of playing the game.
Acting and Casting - 2 | Visual Effects and Editing - 2 | Story and Message - 1| Entertainment Value - 1 | Music Score and Soundtrack - 2| Reviewer's Preference -1 | What does this mean?