by Shane Conto, Staff Writer
Were you a fan of G4? This network was the home for all things gaming for a decent chunk of time in the 2000s. As a gamer since I was about five years old, G4 was perfect for me. There was so much gaming content, and I spent many hours enjoying the shows that were on it. But there was one that never really connected with me (for the most part at least). That was Attack of the Show! Interestingly enough… that is the most influential show from this nerdom-centric network, and the subject of the new documentary, Attack of the Doc!
What does Attack of the Doc! have to say about this iconic show? This documentary comes from one of the on-air personalities from the show, Chris Gore. That does leave quite the bias in the film, which can be felt. One such moment is when the film is trying to tackle some of the more controversial elements of this show. They did some obviously mean-spirited gags, including mocking obese people with their fat suits (just to highlight one of many instances). The approach the film takes is that they never meant to offend, and that their heart was in the right place. But that feels so disingenuous, as they obviously were being outwardly offensive. The film even tries to deliver an “anti-woke” message about how the show would not be allowed today. This feels so lazy and half-baked that it does take you out of the film for a while.
Even if some elements of the film are not effective, what is this documentary able to capture about the show? Attack of the Doc! shows just how unique and different Attack of the Show! was for the time. Their offbeat and strange sense of humor made for a truly unique dynamic for so many people. Speaking from the perspective of someone who just didn’t get the appeal, Gore’s film delivers a persuasive commentary on the show. They are even able to show how late shows were changed forever by the approach of Attack of the Show! But they certainly highlighted just how great of a star Olivia Munn was on this one.
What about the great impact of the show? The documentary captures the shifting perception of nerdom thanks to this program. It became cool to be a nerd, and the community across fandoms was stronger. This is a far cry from the combative and toxic nature of fandom today. But it was the effects on Comic Con and E3 that are truly eye opening. Attack of the Show! broke down barriers, as they were able to live broadcast from these events. This global channel allowed the popularity of these events to grow so much. Some of the highlights of the film are how engaged big names like Jon Favreau and James Cameron became with their content.
Does Attack of the Doc! capture the spirit and legacy of Attack of the Show!? Sure, the documentary is a standard narrative with a linear structure, but there is so much passion behind it. There are even some fun elements like original songs performed by an original member of the show to great comedic effect. This might not be a game-changing film, but it is a nostalgic venture worth taking.
Score: 7/10
Attack of the Doc! will be available on VOD on April 24
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