Several movies released in 2023 dramatize fact-based consumer-product stories.

“Air” is about the Nike Air Jordan athletic shoe.

“BlackBerry” is about the rise and fall of the first smart phone.

“Gran Turismo” is based on the PlayStation video game.

What next?

“Scrapple: Why It Needs Molasses (And Lots of It)”?

Not yet.

However, we do have a drama based on casino capitalism. Welcome to the world of “Dumb Money.”

Movies that explore similar territory include “The Social Network” (2010), “The Wolf Of Wall Street” (2013) and “The Big Short” (2015).

In comparison to those, “Dumb Money” comes up short.

“Dumb Money” is based on the true story of the GameStop retail chain during the Covid-19 pandemic when investors bet against the chain of stores and the company’s stock success, a technique known as short-selling.

Keith Gill, aka “Roaring Kitty,” a stock market online tipster who had a YouTube channel and was active on Reddit’s “WallStreetBets,” had other ideas. He urged investors to purchase GameStop stock. The boost to the stock of the bricks-and-mortar video-game retailer created a crisis on Wall Street, losing millions for short-sellers.

GameStop stock rose to 86.88 on Jan. 27, 2021. The closing stock price for GameStop as of Oct. 27, 2023, was 13.12.

Craig Gillespie (Primetime Emmy nominee, “Pam & Tommy, 2022; director: “Cruella,” 2021; “I, Tonya,” 2017; ‘Million Dollar Arm,” 2014; “Lars And the Real Girl,” 2007) directs “Dumb Money” from a screenplay by Lauren Schuker Blum and Rebecca Angelo (co-screenwriters, TV’s “Orange Is The New Black,” 2017) based on the book, “The Antisocial Network: The GameStop Short Squeeze and the Ragtag Group of Amateur Traders That Brought Wall Street to Its Knees” (2021) by Ben Mezrich.

Mezrich is author of “The Accidental Billionaires: The Founding of Facebook, a Tale of Sex, Money, Genius, and Betrayal” (2009), adapted for the movie, “The Social Network,” 2010, and “Bringing Down the House: The True Story of Six MIT Kids Who Took Vegas for Millions,” 2002, adapted for the movie “21” (2008).

Unlike the other adaptations of Mezrich’s two books, “Dumb Money” has a dumb screenplay. The epilogue on the screen just before the end credits roll includes information that would have better served the film had it been utilized in the screenplay for scenes in the film.

Also blame the preponderance of screens in scenes in “Dumb Money” for its lack of drama. The movie has the sense of a Zoom meeting.

There are the multiple computer screens that Keith Gill (Paul Dano) monitors for his calls to buy GameStop stock; TV screens telecasting financial advice TV shows that trumpet Gill’s investment advice, and iPhone, Samsung and other smart phones on which Gill’s followers parlay their stock purchases with the swipe of a screen. And you thought Tinder was dangerous?

Moreover, there’s not really a central character, or anyone compelling enough to care about in “Dumb Money.” There are too many characters and few get enough screen time or have enough memorable lines of dialogue and few collaborative scenes to make an impression. You’ve heard of sketch comedy? This is sketch drama.

Paul Dano (as the protagonist Keith Gill) always makes an impression. But here, he’s overshadowed by the reflecting light from his computer monitor screens.

Pete Davidson (as Keith’s brother Kevin Gill) seems to be yukking it up as if he’s in a “Saturday Night Live” sketch.

The rest of the ensemble cast flits on and off the movie screen faster than a computer reboot:

Vincent D’Onofrio (Steve Cohen), America Ferrera (Jennifer Campbell), Nick Offerman (Kenneth C. Griffin), Anthony Ramos (Marcos), Sebastian Stan (Vlad Tenev), Shailene Woodley (Caroline Gill, Keith’s wife), Seth Rogen (Gabe Plotkin), Allentown’s Dane DeHaan (Brad), Myha’la Herrold (Riri), Talia Ryder (Harmony), Clancy Brown (Steven Gill, Keith and Kevin’s father) and Kate Burton (Elaine Gill, Keith and Kevin’s mother).

There’s some truth to the adage coined by Scottish historian Thomas Carlyle that economics is the dismal science. “Dumb Money” is the dismal film.

“Dumb Money” is a cautionary tale. It’s a word, and words, for the wise. Prudent investing calls for more than fast thumbs at texting.

My tip for “Dumb Money” is that you should get yourself a smart financial adviser.

And go see another film. Perhaps “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour,” if you can get tickets.

“Dumb Money,”

MPAA Rated R (Restricted Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian. Contains some adult material. Parents are urged to learn more about the film before taking their young children with them.) for pervasive language, sexual material, and drug use; Genre: Biography, Comedy, Drama; Run time: 1 hour, 45 minutes. Districted by Sony Pictures Entertainment.

Credit Readers Anonymous:

“Dumb Money” was filmed in Jersey City, Orange, Bloomfield, Cedar Grove and Morristown, N.J., and Los Angeles.

At The Movies:

”Dumb Money” was seen in the standard format at AMC Tilghman 8.

Theatrical Movie Domestic Weekend Box Office,

Oct. 27 - 29: The pizza arcade video-game based fright fest, “Five Nights at Freddy’s,” opened at No. 1 for the Halloween weekend, $78 million in 3,675 theaters, scaring “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” from its two-week staging at No. 1 with $14.7 million in 3,773 theaters, $149.3 million, three weeks.

3. “Killers of the Flower Moon” dropped one place, $9 million in 3,628 theaters, $40.6 million, two weeks. 4. “After Death,” a documentary about near-death experiences, $5 million, opening in 2,645 theaters. 5. “The Exorcist: Believer” dropped two places, $3.1 million in 2,717 theaters, $59.3 million, four weeks. 6. “Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie” dropped two places, $2.1 million in 2,746 theaters, $59.2 million, five weeks. 7. “Freelance,” opening, $2 million in 2,057 theaters. 8. “The Nightmare Before Christmas” 30th anniversary re-release, dropped three places, $2 million in 2,185 theaters, $7.8 million, two weeks. 9. “Saw X” dropped three places, $1.6 million in 2,141 theaters, $50.2 million, five weeks. 10. “The Creator” dropped three places, $1 million in 1,685 theaters, $38.8 million, five weeks. 21. “Dumb Money” dropped seven places, $50,000 in 254 theaters, $13.8 million, seven weeks.

Movie box office information from Box Office Mojo as of Oct. 29 is subject to change.

Unreel,

Nov. 3:

“Priscilla,”

R: Sofia Coppola directs Cailee Spaeny, Jacob Elordi and Ari Cohen in the Music, Biography, Drama. The story of rock ‘n‘ roll, concert and movie star Elvis Presley seen through the eyes of his wife Priscilla Presley.

“What Happens Later,”

R: Meg Ryan directs herself and David Duchovny in the Romance, Comedy. Former girlfriend and boyfriend Willa and Bill see each other for the first time in years when they are snowed in overnight at an airport.

“The Marsh King’s Daughter,”

R: Neil Burger directs Daisy Ridley, Ben Mendelsohn and Garrett Hedlund in the Crime, Drama, Mystery. A woman wants revenge for the kidnapping of her mother.

Movie opening information from Internet Movie Database as of Oct. 29 is subject to change.

Two Popcorn Boxes out of Five Popcorn Boxes