As one of the original adopters of MoviePass, I sure do miss the service. It was one of the greatest (and let’s face it, unsustainable) business ideas of the decade. Director Muta’Ali‘s documentary “MoviePass, MovieCrash” chronicles the rise and fall of the groundbreaking movie subscription service, and it’ll hit any former cardholders with a wave of emotional nostalgia. The film also serves as a warning tale of unchecked corporate greed, offering a textbook example of business mismanagement that reached the upper echelon of gross incompetence.
Told through the eyes of the company’s visionary co-founders, Stacy Spikes and Hamet Watt, the documentary sometimes comes across as a complaining session for these disgruntled (and rightfully so) self-professed “disruptors.” The two men were running a small company until they sought more capital, which led to them being cast aside by new executives (Mitch Lowe and Ted Farnsworth, portrayed as moustache-twirling villains in this story, and rightfully so) who seized control, ousted the founders, and blew through an insane amount of cash in months that led to the implosion of the entire MoviePass operation.
Muta’Ali skips over most of the history of the company’s early days, instead focusing on the disastrous, beginning of the end, $9.99 per month plan that allowed users to see as many movies as they wanted. This led to an explosion in the number of MoviePass members, but also started the company on a path of rapid decline, money burn, and eventual death from bankruptcy.
The film also takes a look at the co-founders’ idealistic mission through rose-colored glasses, balancing out their big dreams of revolutionizing the moviegoing experience with the harsh reality of business dynamics. It’s more fun to get the audience riled up and ready to boo and hiss at Lowe and Farnsworth, though, and kudos to Lowe for at least agreeing to be interviewed and appearing in the film. Make no mistake, this guy certainly does not appear to be an above-the-board person. He certainly isn’t a good businessman, and his snarky personality will make most people instantly hate him.
Style-wise, this is a very pedestrian documentary that unfolds like a straightforward recounting of events. It’s very news like, presenting a lot of detailed information without a lot of flair. Of course, none of that is necessary to tell a story like this.
Anybody who ever used this service will want to watch “MoviePass, MovieCrash,” but be forewarned that this story is not only going to shock you, but it’s also going to make you angry.
By: Louisa Moore
Screen Zealots 