More of an Exploratory Documentary Than a How To

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MOVIE REVIEW
Get Smart with Money
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Genre: Documentary
Year Released: 2022
Runtime: 1h 33m
Director(s): Stephanie Soechtig
Where To Watch: Premiering on Netflix on September 6

This is a little out of the norm compared to what I usually cover, but I’ve intentionally been trying to spread my wings and branch into more unique offerings and TV shows. In short, this documentary-style show gives an overview of a group of people getting financial advice from some professionals to help them manage their money better.

So ultimately, this feels like a Dave Ramsey book come to life; while it wasn’t bad, the advice given was so generic that it doesn’t feel like it would offer anyone watching any real-world help. A few scenarios in the film felt like real situations many people face, but there was also a segment dedicated to an NFL player. While I could see that being something to “relate” to on a more significant level, I don’t think many people watching this would have the issue of what to do with their 10,000-25,000 dollar weekly paycheck.

The other interviews were interesting but ultimately felt too skimmed over to offer any real help. More often than not, the advice was “stop spending so much,” “save your money,” and “invest your money.” I would’ve preferred a one-on-one with one of the interviewees instead of skimming over multiple ones. At an hour and a half, I feel there could have been more specifics given to how these cases were handled instead of the basics.

That was always my biggest issue with the Dave Ramsey books (and thousands of others) offering the same advice. They all felt like a generic statement instead of anything that would offer real-world advice or show you how to get out of debt. One of my favorite examples is simply to stop shopping online so much. While I get the point, it’s not just feasible for some to take that advice. If it was, then I don’t think as many would be in those situations.

To be fair, I don’t think this film was ever billed as an answer for everything. It is truly what it is, and that’s okay. That’s why I gave it the rating I did, even though I had issues with the more significant idea of the film.

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