Zero Charisma

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Very dark character study of a damaged person that is painful to watch at times and doesn't exactly provide any catharsis or character growth. But it does paint a vivid picture of one sad, sad man and his world.

I see that some people are offended by this film. I can only guess that it is just a bit too close to home for them. The main character is both unlikable and pitiable in many ways. Some of us grew up identifying with the character. His journey forward requiring him to examine who he is and what his friends mean to him is an interesting one. I liked the ending and found the last scene both poignant and eye opening with the character showing his true self. While this movie is not for everyone I think it is an interesting study in how other perceive gamers and how they perceive themselves. In the long run are they really any more pathetic than the hipsters, jocks, or popular kids?

If you are a lover of role-playing games, as I am, then you just definitely have got to watch "Zero Charisma". Where as the movie "Gamerz" was great, then "Zero Charisma" totally re-invents the foundation of this geeky genre. The story is about Scott (played by Sam Eidson) who lives with his grandmother (played by Anne Gee Byrd). Scott is an avid fan of fantasy role-playing games and a metalhead, and has spent the last three years on his campaign, where he is the Game Master for his friends. When one have to drop out of the game, due to personal reasons (read, actually having a wife who wants to separate him), Scott has to find a replacement for the group. Enter Miles (played by Garrett Graham) who has it all, and Scott quickly finds himself without control of the game and his world - both real and imaginary - comes tumbling down around him. What makes this movie great? Well it is a good comedy, especially because it is a geeky comedy. There are hilarious moments in the movie, just as there are awkward moments. The characters are well portrayed, had lots of personality (no Charisma 0 here, you gamers will get this one!), and were easy to grow attached to. Now, from an avid role-player of Dungeons & Dragons for just about 27 years, then there were so many aspects to this movie that just strikes familiar and true to the point where it was downright scary. Us role-playing people tend to have odd routines and rituals, and oddly enough tend to listen to metal. There were so many things in the movie that could easily be painted on me or the guys I play D&D with. "Zero Charisma" progresses at a nice pace, building up the story quite nicely. However, the ending was a bit too much in my opinion, and the movie would have fared better with a different ending. But hey, we all have different likes and dislikes. Regardless of you being a role-player, familiar with the fantasy (or Sci-Fi) RPG games or not, then "Zero Charisma" is a great movie with lots of fun and great situations. If you enjoy geeky comedies, then you definitely need to watch this movie. I raise my sword and roll my d10 dice, with "Zero Charisma" scoring a well-deserved 7 out of 10 star rating.

This movie was incredibly disappointing, as it had plenty of potential but lacked any payoff or real redemption. First of all Scott's drug addict mother who abandoned her son comes back to humiliate him in front of his friends in the most crass and juvenile way imaginable. That is just pathetic and was hard to watch. Second, Scott's grandmother just agrees to sell her home to pay her useless daughter's debts and move into a nursing home? I mean seriously, no grandparent would agree to this. Finally Scott winds up playing RPGs with the elderly at the end? Just about anyone could have written a better script. WTF did I just watch?

Sam Eidson does a fantastic job playing Scott, an old loser with an old school nerd gimmick. Living with his Nanna, but thinking he's a big shot. "Because I'm the game master, that's why," says the bumper sticker on his unimpressive car. Scott takes the audience with him on his descent from lowly loneliness into the abyss of public embarrassment via a myriad of burnt social bridges. Scott's ugly demise at the hands of Miles, played brilliantly by Garrett Graham is a thing of comic beauty. Scott's futile attempt to maintain his reign over his nerdlings falls short. Katie Folger is a bright spot, playing Kendra, Miles' girlfriend. "The gods must be avenged," as Scott would say, and you must watch this movie to find out if Scott has the last laugh. Highly recommended by The Zeus and Tom Show.

Really refreshing to see a flick that demonstrates so amply what can be achieved with just a good script.Solid characterization and some truly great moments for those who like their comedy with cringe.Fell down a little in the denouement,but clever pop culture referencing comedy with some genuine heartfelt moments. Especially interesting for those of us who grew up in the era of D&D, before video games ruled the earth,but not essential to have been there to get it.I haven't come across this group of actors before other than a the odd bit part, but there is the makings of an interesting ensemble cast here I think. Keen to see where some of the people who made this go from here.

I really don't recall how I ran in to this movie late last year but it seemed interesting and I gave it a watch. Honestly, it was probably one of the smartest and realistic movies of 2013. Here's the thing, I know the real life versions of the characters portrayed in this film. The main character, is a guy who has relentless passion for the tabletop gaming lifestyle. It is his social life, his hobby, his job and even his family life to some degree. He invests almost 100% of his time into this activity. This of course causes problems since he tends to be overbearing, a control freak and even an a$$hole throughout the film. But the film even touches on the reasons for how he became this way. He is a man who is relatively young, overweight, balding, unattractive and was abandoned by his mother. So he is almost the tragic hero in a sense since he was an outcast in society and even in his family life. His circle of friends are basically in the same boat as him. While they all have different personalities, they all represent the classic "geek". They represent that oldschool fanboy that never gets laid, dresses sloppily, has poor social skills, possible bad hygiene and lives on a high sugar and fat diet. The group eventually meets a new gaming partner named Miles. Miles, in my opinion was fascinating because he was cast PERFECTLY. He represents the new type of nerd which is more mainstream, the HIPSTER NERD. He is the very typical tall, thin man who wears thick rimmed glasses, uses tight clothing, light facial hair and has a calm and more sociable demeanor. Now in the film, it was very interesting for me to see this since because we never had a film that really showed how both types of "NERDS" are similar yet so different. And the film is brutally honest about that fact that the more GEEKY nerds are still very much the social outcasts that they always were. While on the other hand, the new Hipster Nerds are basically the nerds that are more popular and accepted in society. And they tend to lead more eventful and interesting lives while having similar interests to the GEEKS. The ending to this film is not a happy one by any means. The main character shows a sense of jealousy toward the new guy who is cooler that him. But throughout the film, despite his jealousy, he senses that something is off and the new guy is not exactly what he seems. And towards the end of the film, he finds out that Miles throws a party at his house without inviting his tabletop gaming buddies, and it is indirectly revealed that even among nerds, the GEEKS are outcasts that are unpopular. But all in all, I really enjoyed this film very much because as a nerd (which type am I? lol), I found many elements portrayed to be very real. I have totally seen similar types of stories play out in my personal life regarding the GEEK NERD vs.HIPSTER NERD stigmas. The character studies on the main character and even some of the supporting characters were compelling and enjoyable to watch. And I am really interested in seeing what the directors come up with next...SEQUEL PLEASE!!

I had such high hopes for this movie, as an avid D&D player through my college years and a fan of MMOs. Finally, the geeks get their due. We've got a gamer protagonist who is both sympathetic and pitiable. I rooted for him, I felt bad for him, I felt embarrassed for him. He does everything he can, but his luck is just terrible. His nemesis is better looking than him, has more friends, a better website, and he might be smarter, but he's also a bit douchey. A little stuck up. At first he looks like he might be the better man, but as we learn more about him, maybe not. Someone in another review compared this to Taxi Driver, and I can see why they'd say that. By the end I kept wondering how poor Scott could ever rectify his situation. There were people I was hoping he would just go mad and attack, because it looked like there was nothing else left for him to do. I'm avoiding spoilers here, but let me say that I was very disappointed in the ending. I think our hero deserved better than he got. If you're a table top gamer or you like RPGs or MMOs, definitely give it watch, but beware the finale. It's not as good as it could've been, by far.

Well I watched this because I tremendously enjoyed gaming as a kid, before the internet and Playstations it was great. Is this a geek movie for geeks, nerds gamers or whomever? Yes in some aspects - I started watching it with my girlfriend who can happily watch the Avengers and whatnot but changed movie, the game references just went over her head so I watched it later myself. In the end however really at it's core to me it reflects people, their obsessions, their behaviour and interactions. The Game is a catalyst really and the movie proved more thought provoking than I expected, and more seious, the cast were good and incredibly awkward at times which provided the laughs. Zero Charisma was apt. Enjoyable enough however although I'd certainly recommend only to those who don't mind their geekery.