Some Assembly Required (2008)

User Rating:

7.5/10   

Director:

Dori Berinstein

Genre:

Documentary

Plot:

Over 2000 kids. 400 teams nationwide. Eight months of brainstorming, designing and building. One goal: to create the next great toy. |

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Company:

Dramatic Forces

Some Assembly Required SXSW Review

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

AUSTIN/SXSW – Perhaps my favorite competition film from this year's SXSW Film Festival, "Some Assembly Required" was almost ruined for me because I was sitting next to a pack of teenage girls who were giggling and talking throughout the entire movie. I was just about to ask them to be quiet when I realized that these unruly teens sitting next to me were the exact same ones giggling and behaving like typical teenagers up on the screen in front of me.

So, making allowances for bad behavior from the film's young stars, "Some Assembly Required" is nevertheless a delightful look at six teams of school kids who are competing in the national Toy Challenge. Basically, it's a school competition that brings kids together after school to try and design a new toy. The contest is sponsored in part each year by Dr. Sally Ride, the former astronaut whose science foundation works to keep teen girls interested in math and science.

Those of you who have seen "Spellbound" or "Rock School" should immediately understand the appeal of "Some Assembly Required." The cameras follow these bright and vivacious kids as they pour their hearts and energy into creating something memorable. The charm of this documentary is that you learn just enough about all of the kids to take a personal interest in their success. Your paternal instincts will kick in and you'll find yourself hoping that each team could win the grand prize.

Of course they can't all win the top prize, but the film posits that the process of creation is the real reward here. As one coach pointed out when her team of mostly Girl Scouts set out to build a game that required them to create a complex series of electronic circuits; the very idea that these girls now know how to build electronics trumps any medal they might have won later on in competition.

"Some Assembly Required" is inspiring, and I particularly recommend it for middle school teachers or any parent looking to keep their child interested in science and learning. It's a simple doc; not overwhelmed with stylistic flourishes like many contemporary propaganda pieces masquerading as documentaries. Not a problem. The kids are so engaging that they easily hold your attention, even if there's a group babbling teens sitting next to you.

BTW-if you're a teacher interested in entering the next Sally Ride Toy Challenge, you can get all the details at www.sallyridescience.com/toychallenge.