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.
12 Reviews
Fine
pauseplay-979033 June 2018
This week i watched a documentary on Netflix called making fun, which is about the company Funko.
In short it was fine. For every thing i really enjoyed there was something that i disliked. I quite enjoyed all of the celebrity interviews in the film because it gives you a bit more incite into these peoples lives, especially the wwe guy and the boxer because there lives where portrayed as being very private. but at the same time too me its just like whoa nostalgia is great guys, don't you agree.
Almost the same argument can be made for the normal people, except there are way too many people just thrown into the film, i guess it was to put more relate able story's into the film but they are barely developed at all so you end up just not caring.
However, the back story of the company and what they are like now, (which is what whole movie should have been about) is fantastic and worth watching the film for. I am not going to go into any detail about because you should just watch the film.
but all in all it was a fine film with a really good beginning and end, but a disappointing middle that felt like a completely different film in the middle and in my mind it is a 6.5/10.
In short it was fine. For every thing i really enjoyed there was something that i disliked. I quite enjoyed all of the celebrity interviews in the film because it gives you a bit more incite into these peoples lives, especially the wwe guy and the boxer because there lives where portrayed as being very private. but at the same time too me its just like whoa nostalgia is great guys, don't you agree.
Almost the same argument can be made for the normal people, except there are way too many people just thrown into the film, i guess it was to put more relate able story's into the film but they are barely developed at all so you end up just not caring.
However, the back story of the company and what they are like now, (which is what whole movie should have been about) is fantastic and worth watching the film for. I am not going to go into any detail about because you should just watch the film.
but all in all it was a fine film with a really good beginning and end, but a disappointing middle that felt like a completely different film in the middle and in my mind it is a 6.5/10.
Highly enjoyable
cadenrbittle1 June 2018
While flawed, it is a fun documentary. I am a funko collector and seeing the origins of the company is interesting. If you collect Funko products, this is for you. If you don't collect any of Funko's products, then you don't have to see this; but you would enjoy it. So that's why I gave it a seven out of ten.
A documentary of one of the biggest collectible trends ever
rigovega11 February 2019
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.
Great Fun!
cammieconn24 May 2018
I was thoroughly surprised by how much I enjoyed this documentary! Not only did it explain the humble beginnings of a company that I've loved for a while now, but it also felt like a celebration of nerdy-ness and what you can accomplish if you have enough passion for storytelling and pop culture.
Great Company Story, Horrible Story Delivery
samedanner2 June 2018
Funko is an intriguing company with an even more inspiring story. The documentary does not do the story of the company justice. There was no real narrative to the story telling. The transitions from point A to point B were very abrupt and confusing. I spent a lot of time during my viewing trying to understand what was going on because what we had just seen has nothing to do with the following scene. I would love to see a better documentary for this companies story. It felt like someone watched a YouTube video on how to make a documentary, watched half of the video, and said, "I can do that." Fun story, poor execution.
The story of a "community" of fun created by fans for fans
tmpsvita1 June 2018
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.
Nonsensical rambling that will leave you scratching your head
AttorneyJenn29 May 2018
It could have been a great documentary but it leads the viewer down a rabbit hole where, upon reaching bottom, leaves them scratching their head saying "how the hell did we get here?" I love the series The Toys that Made Us and unfortunately, this is a far cry from fun, clear, concise and informative storytelling. It's reminiscent of an episode of Family Guy (and I'm not being complimentary) where a bunch of random ideas are thrown into a hat, randomly pulled out and glued together regardless of continuity or necessity. While it started off well enough, you'll find yourself quickly falling down the rabbit hole and likely falling asleep.
Well put together, informative and heartwarming
AverageJoesDriveInPodcast9 June 2018
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
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
Interesting Toys - Boring Documenty
GunnersMate24 June 2018
You'd think that the story of a little company that grew from a shared nostalgic interest to a pop culture phenomenon would be a terrific watch...sadly wrong, so sadly. The tone of Making Fun: The Story of Funko is slow and quiet, which is actually fine as the viewer can't help but think that the slow and quiet will build to some emotional or informational climax, but it just stays quiet never quite makes the gut-connection required to make watching this documentary worth the time. Stretches of it are border-line straight-up boring and others are oddly disjointed and not terribly concerned about contributing to a larger narrative. It's actually pretty surprising. The viewer gets plenty of backstory on the Funko company, its origins, its employees and volunteers, its evolution, its fans, its celebrities (as both fans and POP Funko subject matter), its unique and colorful products, its popularity in the collectibles market, and its future aspirations; and it is simply shocking that all of that does not add up to an interesting documentary. They even throw in a story to wrench the heart towards the end, but it feels manipulative and trumped up to justify the time spent on the Funko tale. This could have been so much better.
Collector
kosmasp18 October 2018
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
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
Is this a documentary or an ad?
jthaule2 August 2018
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.
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.
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