Knights of Badassdom

2013 action comedy

Rating: 9/20

Plot: A few LARPers battle a demon.

I have to give this a bonus point or two for a lack of any kind of scene where the titular role-players lock foam swords and scream the title of the movie. Or, now that I think about it, maybe that would have been pretty badass. If you want to watch a movie like this, you should watch Rock 'n' Roll Nightmare instead. This is probably a better movie with a more cohesive plot, better characterization, better effects, less product placement, and a cooler title (barely), but after some initial self-aware cutesiness, this starts to feel repetitive and maybe a little mean spirited. It doesn't really work as a comedy even though I did like how committed everybody was to the concept, and it doesn't really work as an action movie either. Geeks with an interest in these sort of role-playing hijinks or death metal music or especially both of those might get more of a kick out of this than other people. Peter Dinklage appears to be having a lot of fun, and I like how his character's diminutive stature isn't overtly addressed at all in this. I can't remember a movie where a little person character blends in better than Dinklage does here. In a movie where almost all the performers are squeezing everything they can from over-the-top geekery, nobody really stands out, even when Dinklage is saying cool things like "We'll be back, you redneck cocksuckers. This I vow." I also liked Jimmi Simpson as the game master or whatever they're called in this kind of thing. The demon--after its transformation from the main characters ex-girlfriend--was a little underwhelming. If you're looking for funny B-movie fun, there are plenty of options that aren't Knights of Badassdom, although you have to appreciate that title.