Under the Boardwalk: The Monopoly Story

Serving up a relentless barrage of Monopoly trivia, filmmaker Kevin Tostado's Under the Boardwalk shares more than a few fascinating factoids about the perennially popular board game. For instance, who knew there were Monopoly World Championships held every four years? Or that the prototype for the game we know today began in 1903 as a recreational way to teach people about the evils of laissez-faire capitalism? What isn't so surprising is the awkwardly charming über-geekery of the Monopoly-crazed interview subjects here, mainly gleaned from the ranks of the world's most formidable players. The documentary mixes together information about the game's history and immense global cultural impact with a steady and relatively dramatic run-up to the Monopoly World Championship in Las Vegas, where the four best players square off for a $20,000 paycheck (presumably in real money). Although Tostado does a decent job of building nail-biting drama from an essentially drama-less scenario, a little too much footage is dedicated to Monopoly-related quirkiness, such as a family's Monopoly-themed bathroom. DVD extras include an extended segment on one of the profiled Monopoly players, an edited version of the 2009 championship final game, and an interactive quiz. Recommended. Aud: P. (M. Sandlin)