I remember the Beanie Baby craze like it was yesterday. I had dozens of them and was always looking for more to add to my collection. My favorite was Patti the platypus because she was purple and that was my favorite color. And then suddenly, they were just gone and I never really knew why. That is why I was looking forward to checking out The Beanie Bubble.
Released on Apple TV+, the movie follows Ty Warner (Zach Galifianakis), a salesman down on his luck. When he teams up with friend and neighbor Robbie (Elizabeth Banks), their creation takes on a life of their own. Thanks to the help of a gifted receptionist named Maya (Geraldine Viswanathan) and Ty’s fiancée Sheila (Sarah Snook), we see the rise and fall of one of the greatest times in consumerism.
While this is mostly based on a true story, there were some liberties taken here and there to elevate the material. What they wanted was to give this film more of a comedic air and while I appreciated the notion, I didn’t really see it in the long run. Yes there were some funny moments, but it was mixed in with some dramatic moments too. At least the color palette was poppy and vibrant which, combined with the fun soundtrack mixed with early 90s hits, made for an uplifting experience.
Galifianakis and Banks are fine comedians who did a great job at carrying this film on their backs. The former was unrecognisable as the toy tycoon. He makes you want to root for him at the beginning, but as time goes by, you realize it is actually the women in his life who are the true heroes of this phenomenon. Maya, in particular, was the most impressive of all – give this woman her own film!
Although there was nothing to write home about, The Beanie Bubble was an interesting enough addition to the long list of consumerist movies ranging from Tetris, to BlackBerry and most recently Barbie. With a likeable cast and insight into the rise and fall of a toy that I loved growing up, it made for great Sunday afternoon viewing.
Rating: ♥️♥️♥️
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