“Word Wars”

Although I never really thought about competitive Scrabble as a career choice, apparently some people have. Including the four players profiled in “Word Wars.” This is a rare group of men who have a talent with the tiles but no visible means of support – and Scrabble isn’t exactly paying the bills. The characters range from the mildly eccentrlc to the downright creepy. One competitor with the unpleasant nickname “G.I. Joel” (G.I. as in gastro-intestinal) swigs Maalox and explains the finer details of his acid reflux. It’s all a bit sad. Hence my tweet: Word Wars-Forget the underdogs. This film about competitive Scrabble makes you feel sorry for the winners. 5.5 (out of 10) If you’re looking for a documentary about someone with an unhealthy obsession, I’d recommend “The King of Kong.” I gave it a 9. Steve Wiebe’s quest to beat the world record on Donkey Kong is a much more exciting and interesting story.

“Word Wars”

Released: 2004

Rating: NR

Length: 77 minutes

Cast: Joe Edley, Matt Graham, Marlon Hill, “G.I.” Joel Sherman

Directors: Julian Petrillo, Eric Chaikin

Genre(s): Documentary