‘The Beanie Bubble’ review: Tiny treasures, massive workplace drama
Last year brought a glut of star-studded adaptations that tackled real-life scammer stories, from “The Dropout” to “Inventing Anna.” This year, Hollywood has shifted focus to the business tycoon-as-protagonist. Makers of jobs! And lots and lots of money. Who better to be at the center of the narrative? I mean, I can think of plenty of others, actually.
But here we are with “The Beanie Bubble,” the Apple TV+ movie about Beanie Babies and the company that makes them, the Westmont-based Ty Inc., named for its founder Ty Warner.
The movie (about Nike’s line of basketball shoes), (the eponymous video game), (the smartphone brand) and “Flamin’ Hot” (processed snack foods). That’s five movies about the wonders of corporate mythmaking — some flattering, some not, but none particularly invested in thoughtful critique — all released in just the first half of 2023. To a one, they lean into the aesthetics of the ‘80s and ‘90s, becoming fantasias of dated clothing and period-appropriate needle drops. But these depictions skim over the surface, rather than actually capturing a moment in time and pop culture.
