I Declare….Thumb War!
By Nelson Maddaloni
I declare that Lily Nelson’s short film, Thumb War!, is a riotous good time at the movies. For a brisk 52 minutes, the film chronicles the odd, quirky world of competitive thumb wrestling with a cast of oddballs, outcasts, and underdogs to cheer on. From the opening of the film, the comedic shadows of Christopher Guest comedies are brought to mind. We’re welcomed into the lives of a variety of fun characters ranging from an Amish wunderkind to the Soccer Mom of the Thumb wrestling world. Each character is loaded with hyperbolic fun and silliness one might come to expect from a mockumentary style film. What I like about this movie is that, in the spirit of Christopher Guest films, we’re let into the lives of people who are rarely given a second glance. The joys of these movies is that they elevate the so-called outcasts of society and places them on a pedestal. They aren’t looked upon with pity, instead, they are the heroes of their own stories. This short boasts a large cast, but each character is intentional and no one goes to waste.
Outcasts, the dregs of society, are people worth making films about. A variety of characters in this bring charm and a sense of fun to the picture. A particular favorite of mine was Katherine Avery, our lead, who rises from humble Amish farmer to thumb wrestling champion. She brought “fish out of water” humor that we could all root for, along with her sleazy manager and trainer, whom we first met living out of a van in the woods.
Along with the character driven narrative, there is a sense of sheer love of the story brought out by the actors just diving into their roles and simply having fun. Director, Lily Nelson brings a warmth to the story, but also a sense of dark humor scattered throughout. Some characters meet horrible fates, such as the smashed hands of the current reigning champion, and there’s a sense of danger that pervades this film, yet it doesn’t come off as mean spirited. It is just part of the game. The film feels like a passion project, from someone who has watched and loved This is Spinal Tap or Best in Show and who wanted to give her best salute to the masters of mockumentary. She brings an energy and a perspective that is admirable, as the film comes off as if everyone is simply having a blast being a part of it. This raucous joy and energy spills out from the screen and makes its way to the audience as we’re able to laugh and enjoy the story along with this band of misfits.
Watch Thumb War! here.