So, after all these years, the feature film of the Angry Video Game Nerd has finally been released. The question is, does it live up to the hype? Not exactly, but it's clearly a work of passion that fans will get a kick out of.
It's all a fairly standard plot, probably taking a lot of notes from the sorts of films that director and writer Rolfe enjoy and may have grown up with. The plot twists are generally silly, and the film eventually snowballs into a sort of over-the-top science-fiction affair that pays homage to old video games as well as similarly silly plots of oddball comedies past. Certainly, it's no high art, but that's probably not what one would expect from a Cinemassacre production. Indeed, the film's generally light-hearted tone is one of the things that makes the film enjoyable. The script is profanity-laden and filled with gags, and shows off the unique humour of the show. The jokes aren't always funny-some come across as derivative-but in general they land, making for a fun two hours.
Characters are generally one-note. Cooper (Jeremy Suarez) exists mostly as the comedic sidekick to the Nerd, with a number of his character traits being grounded in stereotypes or existing solely to contrast with the Nerd, Mandi (Sarah Glendening) is not so much a character as a hodgepodge of tropes, General Onward (Stephen Mendel) is your typical hammy, over-the-top villain, etc. In general, these characters are still fun, but their flatness can at times get distracting. Meanwhile, the Nerd has a decent character arc involving the idea of people buying video games based on their infamy, and coming to terms with that. It's probably the strongest part of the narrative, and stands out amidst the shenanigans.
Effects are a mixed bag, with somewhat impressive CGI being interlaced with pretty good practical effects and blatantly fake models and green screen work. Rolfe has in the past demonstrated a passion for practical effects, and that comes through here with an extensive use of models, makeup, and physical sets. Some of these are more effective than others, though the most obviously fake of them are most likely intentional, popping up for comic effect. Sometimes it's more effective than others, and often it's overshadowed by the action scenes.
General production is fairly impressive for a low-budget crowdfunded effort. Rolfe and his co-director Kevin Finn have genuine talent behind the camera, with some strong cinematography being present throughout the movie. Editing is also strong, easily matching the quality of much larger-budget films. The excellent score, composed by Bear McCreary, is used to punctuate many scenes to great effect, resulting in the film showing great control over its own atmosphere. It's largely the editing and music that makes the action scenes so exhilarating, with explosion effects plastered in at opportune times and just generally good construction.
The Angry Video Game Nerd: The Movie probably isn't for everyone. Its appeal extends mostly to its own fanbase, though it's fun in its own right. Ultimately, the film is a love letter to Rolfe's fanbase, who he shows a great deal of respect for in the ending. It's clear that a lot of care and effort went into the creation of this film, and while its low budget and cult audience shows, it's actually somewhat inspiring to see independent filmmakers with a low budget go out and not only finish a project like this, but also have it reach a solid audience. As for the film itself? It's a fun time. Not necessarily a must-watch, but perhaps worth checking out.
7/10
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