Under the Boardwalk: The Monopoly Story - 6 stars out of 10

Under the Boardwalk: The Monopoly Story - 6 stars out of 10

"Under The Boardwalk" is a two-fold documentary that tells the history of Monopoly and also follows several players competing in the Monopoly National Championship.  Although this board game may not seem like the most exciting subject matter in the world, the documentary never drags on or has an opportunity to get boring because it is constantly interspersing segments about the competitions, history, and quirky players of Monopoly.  It is definitely a film that all viewers can relate to, since this is essentially a part of every person's childhood.  After seeing "Word Wars" (a similar documentary about Scrabble), I am so thankful that this film is G-rated and does not contain so much profane language that it is nearly unwatchable.  It is interesting to see how the places on the board were determined, the original intent of this game, and how it eventually was picked up by Parker Brothers, but my personal favorite segment of the film is the one entitled "Collectors."  This segment brings attention to the people who take Monopoly fandom a step (or three) too far.  Nothing beats that Monopoly bathroom!  Whether it means to or not, the segments about the people who treat Monopoly as a lifestyle provide the comic relief that prevents the film from dragging on like the actual game often does.   Regardless of your interest in the game, this documentary provides a unique insight into the history and modern world of Monopoly and is definitely worth a watch.