Making Fun: The Story of Funko

I found some of the documentary info interesting but I couldn't help but feel like the film felt like an advertisement and the gloating of the company takes away from the genuine moments of the documentary.

Funko is a well known company these days, but not many know their story or struggle. The people responsible for the popular collectible figures Funko Pops line has a touching story that is nostalgic, fun, and moving. While a documentary on the subject is not appealing to just everybody, the documentary manages to make it entertaining for someone like me who had no previous interest in these collectibles prior to watching it. I have developed an admiration for the companies ideas, philosophy, and overall take on pop culture thanks to this documentary. This is definitely not for everyone, but it is for me.

If you are a collector yourself (a friend of mine is and not anything but those Funko figures - and watching this I have to admit I totally get it), this probably will speak to you. I guess deep down many men are collectors of one thing or another. Women have been accused of collecting shoes or clothes. I guess we all have "vices", one of them can be called "collecting" stuff. Obviously some people will take advantage of that. Just check ebay to see what some of those Funko figures cost ... and then you may wonder if you should have bought some. But back to the documentary, which is really fun and light hearted. It has a fine structure and you can see the beginnings and how it all evolved and why it became a phenomenon. Maybe some of the things seem a bit to good to be true. But some people do get lucky. Only thing I would have wanted to see in this: The friend I mentioned! He would have fitted right in with all the other people - in a good way of course

I'm not a huge funko fan. I have four funko pops, and they're amusing. But, I enjoy toys so I figured I'd watch another toy related documentary. From the get go the documentary states that this is not about the toys, so I was a bit confused, but OK. It was about the company. Fine. But as it trailed along it got to be more and more of a comercial ad for the funko brand, and not so much a documentary. And it was actually quite boring as such. Amusing to see the different people they had dug up to represent the fans, but I'm not sure if these were endorsements or examples of actual fans.

I am in the target audience for this documentary, as I am a geeky and somewhat childish guy who loves his Funco Wacky Wobblers...and I've had them for years. So, for folks who don't mind the label 'geek', it's an excellent film. I would also add, however, that I wish the documentary had been separated into two films. That's because I loved learning about the history of the company, how they have marketed and how they've grown. But that only makes up about half the film. The other half consists of interviews with the many uber-fans of Funco (many of which are celebrities)...which I enjoyed but which also took away from learning more about this fascinating company. Still, with this reservation, I do recommend you see it...particularly if you are a fan of pop culture...which most of us are.

A tribute to the entertainment industry, a praise to pop culture and a hymn to fun, this is Funko, a company created by fans of music, cinema, comics, TV series, cartoons, television but above all the genuine and extraordinary, and why not even childish, sense of fun that can also come from a simple action figure made with love by fans for fans. More than a company or a fashion, it is a community, a group of people linked by the same passion and the same hobby, collecting. Of course, a symbol of capitalist culture and consumerism and also considered, by those who are not part of it, a useless waste of money and as a collector fan I can only confirm that it is true but, as the documentary says through a funko fan (funko funatic), it's damn fun. A documentary difficult to see in an impartial way, for people like me, that really excited me for his way of telling the story of funko not only from the point of view of who created it or from the rest of the staff but also and especially by fonds, collectors, those who have made it such an influential company and a brand so popular, through interviews that dig into their lives and how the funko has conditioned them and even, in some cases, improved. To say the least interesting to find out how it works and how it was born and grown, by fans who love their products but who do not have many or know its history, this documentary was a way to get excited even more and in a deeper way and I believe it will allow other people to get to know this world and maybe even join it.

While I'm not a huge FUNKO collector I've always thought they were interesting. The only ones I currently have are my two Fallout Pops. It's one of those things I've avoided because I knew I would get sucked in and spend way too much money on them. When the documentary recently popped up on Netflix I knew I had to check it out. I love documentaries like this. It's very well made and never boring. You get to see where the company came from and where it is today. What I loved most about this was the fact it wasn't just about the company. It was about the people's lives it has touched, the communities and friendships it has built, and the joy and happiness it brings to so many. It's really hard to not watch this and not have a smile on your face by the end. Even if you're not a FUNKO collector, or even that familiar with them, this is well worth a watch. It's a very well put together and informative documentary. It's interesting and at times heartwarming. A great watch if you need to smile. My Rating: 9/10