Escapism made tangible in ‘Making Fun’ docu
Now a familiar sight to toy and memorabilia collectors, the cartoony Funko Pop! vinyl figures range from the obscure to the overwhelmingly popular, from TV and film characters to those inspired by real celebrities.
The company behind the hit collectibles gets an informative documentary in Netflix’s “Making Fun: The Story of Funko,” tracing its humble beginnings and impact on pop culture aficionados.
The film by David Romero takes a respectful look into the communities that buy these products.
Funko founder Mike Becker is interviewed about his erstwhile business, which started small in his family’s Washington home.
Becker, whose hands-on approach enabled Funko’s growth in seven exhausting but fulfilling years, put his love for collecting to good use, believing that work should be fun—hence, “Funko” or “fun company.”
The documentary illustrates via interviews with Becker and his business partners, as well as photos and grainy video footage, the early and energetic days of Funko. It started selling bobbleheads of old company mascots, as well as figures of Betty Boop, the latter’s success heralding other well-received, licensed Hollywood items.
Eclectic
“Making Fun” also gathers an eclectic set of interviewees, including athletes, rock stars, screen icons and those whose lives were positively affected by collecting in general.
Horror diva Elvira, aka actress Cassandra Peterson, briefly talks about having her very own Funko Pop! figure as a testament to her popularity, while Lou Ferrigno talks about his time as the TV Hulk and his familiarity with the figurines, usually brought by fans at conventions.
Rock star Alice Cooper talks about his admiration for a detailed toy version of himself, amusingly comparing it to “Family Guy’s” big-headed baby character, Stewie.
Other interesting celeb interviewees include Nichelle Nichols, the African-American cast member of the original “Star Trek” TV show; director Kevin Smith, who attended Funko’s store launch last year; and Sam Jones, who starred as the titular hero in 1980’s “Flash Gordon” film.
Perceptively shedding light on the hobby is Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett, a longtime comic book and toy collector: “Creative people like to surround themselves with the results of other creative people… When I look at a great movie poster, I feel inspired by it. All of a sudden, I just want to grab my guitar and play whatever.”
That enthusiasm is shared by the noncelebrities featured in the docu, fans from different walks of life and different countries, including the Philippines.
These hobbyists open up on how the waves of merchandise from the different but related media platforms offer them much-needed inspiration or escape.