Andrew Jenks’ documentary Billion Dollar Babies: The True Story of the Cabbage Patch Kids will obviously appeal to fans and collectors of the famous toy brand, but it should also reel in viewers who are obsessed with streamable studies on snowballing catastrophes (Tiger King, Fyre, Pepsi, Where’s My Jet?, Trainwreck: Woodstock ’99).  This nichey flick doesn’t boil over with ridiculous, jaw-dropping climaxes, although it is a shock and a hoot to watch ‘80s video footage of department stores being swamped by eager, violent buyers with big hair.  But, Jenks’ chronicling of Cabbage Patch Kids’ history mixed with the influence the toy had on its consumers and future “event shopping” (aka. Black Friday crowds/riots) still makes for a really interesting documentary.

Narrated by Neil Patrick Harris (the Harold & Kumar franchise, The Smurfs 2), Billion Dollar Babies: The True Story of the Cabbage Patch Kids wisely utilizes interviews with Cabbage Patch Kids’ founder Xavier Roberts (making a a rare public appearance).  The context of his interviews come from a purposely vague place, constantly challenging the audience to question whether they believe the entrepreneur’s passion for his product.  When “plagiarism” is discussed when Roberts’ prototype is suggested that it’s stolen from late Kentucky artist Martha Nelson Thomas, our questioning goes through the roof.  The film also does a fine job integrating chats with journalists, historians, and business associates who were present for the success of Cabbage Patch Kids.  Considering how much of the movie traces down the reasoning behind the Cabbage Patch Kids’ popularity, the articulate opinions from the toy experts are educational with appreciable personal touches. 

The interviews with contemporary collectors (notably an older couple who, at one time, had thousands of Cabbage Patch Kids) are interesting in another way.  The film never truly pins down the consumer fascination with these toys (the doc settles somewhere between peer pressure and reselling them during toy shortages), but observing these fans is oddly engrossing.  However, the doc is guilty of occasionally teasing their excitement for the viewer’s enjoyment.  Bewildered laughs are had by the viewer, but not without feeling sorry for those on-screen.

While Billion Dollar Babies: The True Story of the Cabbage Patch Kids is worthy of your time, with the earlier mention of a streamable docuseries, the audience is left wondering if this material would’ve been better suited for a limited series;  especially during the brief acknowledgement of a four-year legal battle regarding product plagiarism, an even briefer glimpse of Martha Nelson Thomas’ private life and creative process as an independent doll manufacturer, and a minuscule peek at Xavier Roberts being intimated by Garbage Pail Kids possibly plagiarizing his work.  Something tells me that there are still plenty of corners to uncover with this material.  Maybe Netflix can recruit Andrew Jenks to pick up where his documentary leaves off.

**********

Do You Tweet? Follow These Tweeple:

Addison Wylie: @AddisonWylie