[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ashens_8001.jpg]]

->''"I'm a collector. I collect very rare, but absolutely worthless collectables."''
-->-- '''Stuart Ashen'''

After appearing in the [[WebVideo web series]] ''WebVideo/TheProxy'', famous Website/YouTube reviewer-man [[Creator/StuartAshen Dr Stuart Ashen]] wanted to harness the talents of the crew who worked on it to do his own bidding... He talked with the director, Riyad Barmania, about the possibility of producing his own feature film.

The result, announced on Ashen's channel in March 2013 and released on 8 August 2013, is ''Ashens and the Quest for the Gamechild'' (or "[[CamelCase [=GameChild=]]]", or "Game Child"), an indie comedy adventure film starring Ashen as himself, as well as [=YouTubers=] such as Chris Kendall (Crabstickz), Dan Tomlinson (of Guksack) and PJ Liguori ([=KickthePJ=]). It also features the actors Creator/RobertLlewellyn, Kerry Gilbert, Millie Reeves and Creator/WarwickDavis.

The movie is about ([[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin as the name implies]]) the protagonist Ashens going on a quest to search for a UsefulNotes/GameBoy rip-off called the Game Child. He meets his OldFriend Geoffrey "Chef" Excellence, who encourages him to do so. On the way, he encounters two ex-girlfriends, his old university professor, his improvisational jazz musician neighbour the Silver Skull, and his annoying nemesis, [[MeaningfulName Nemesis]].

When the movie was announced, Ashens asked fans to donate funds for the movie [[http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/ashens-and-the-quest-for-the-game-child via the crowdfunding website Indiegogo]]. The accumulated funds raised are about US$74,000 (£49,000), about $24,000 (£16,000) over the goal; $100,000 (£64,000) had already been contributed by the online production company [=ChannelFlip=].

The film was originally released for free on [=YouTube=], but is presently available digitally as [[https://vimeo.com/ondemand/questforthegamechild/476733695 a paid download]] on Platform/{{Vimeo}} and as a "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBAUO4srdE0 free-with-ads]]" [=YouTube=] movie in mid-2023. It is also available for purchase on DVD and Blu-ray. A sequel, ''WebVideo/AshensAndThePolybiusHeist'', was announced in 2018 and released in 2020.
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!! This film contains examples of the following tropes:
* ActorISTheTitleCharacter: Stuart Ashen IS Ashens (but he's still Stuart Ashen).
* AffablyEvil: Larry as a psycho who killed 17 people [[spoiler: because they beat his Donkey Kong high score]] is still a very pleasant fellow.
* AintTooProudToBeg: Chef Excellence pleads with Ashens to let him stay.
* AnalogyBackfire:
-->'''Ashens''': I like to think of it as the bowels of the library; this would be the lower intestine.
-->'''Chef Excellence''': Ah. Well if this is the lower intestine, [[ToiletHumour what does that make us?]]
-->'''Both:''' Ewww.
* AngryFistShake: Ashens does this after his ice cream falls on the ground.
* AnimatedCreditsOpening: By Oli Putland.
* ArsonMurderAndJaywalking:
-->'''The Guide''': The path is not gonna be easy. It's gonna be filled with treacherous obstacles, and danger... and ''stuff''.
* ArtifactOfDoom: [[spoiler:The Game Child, which is actually a nuclear device.]]
* ArtisticLicense: The Game Child really exists, but it is not as rare as it is portrayed to be... [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d49oW0jVXUc as Ashens reveals in his review of the Game Child]].
* ArtisticLicenseMusic: When Stuart unlocks the door with a piano, the paper that he is using for reference reads ABADGH. He actually plays ABABCB and then the highest key, which is marked with an H. As well, him playing a B is taken as incorrect, despite him playing it in the correct spot.
* {{Angrish}}: "Chef get angry!"
* AscendedMeme: A RunningGag in the film is people commenting on Ashens' CelebrityResemblance to Creator/SimonPegg, to the point where [[spoiler:it gives him a HeroicSecondWind when he get some words of encouragement from an oblivious passerby who makes the same mistake]], referencing a common in-joke among the real Stuart Ashens' Website/YouTube viewer base.
* BerserkButton: Ashley's father
* BigRedButton: Ashens presses one while [[spoiler:Geoff is "hacking" to override the computer's security.]]
* BlackComedy:
** The Guide [[spoiler:being electrocuted to death]] is followed by [[spoiler:his corpse being left next to a road with a sign saying "FREE CORPSE"]].
** The post-credits EasterEgg showing [[spoiler:Ashley in a mental hospital]].
* BoundAndGagged: [[spoiler:Marion]]
* BraggingThemeTune: Parodied and averted; the opening song calls Ashens an "odd little bearded prat".
* TheCameo: A quatuor of the British Website/ChannelAwesome crew show up. In order, Creator/MasakoX, [[WebVideo/BadMovieBeatdown Film Brain]], WebVideo/{{Guru Larry|AndWez}} and WebVideo/MikeJ. WebVideo/{{Welshy}} (who had just left TGWTG at the time of the film's release) also appears.
** WebVideo/{{Mentski}} also has a cameo appearance, [[spoiler: menacing Nemesis in jail at the end]].
* CantHoldHisLiquor: Chef Excellence
* CatapultNightmare: Ashens sits up in bed after the animated dream sequence.
* CatchPhrase: Nemesis' "[You] idiot!"
** Chef Excellence's "A true chef..."
** Ashens' "Hello!" makes an appearance as [[spoiler:the ORACLE password]] and is parodied at the end of the film when Ashens says "Goodbye!"
* CelebrityResemblance: "I just met [[spoiler:Creator/SimonPegg]]!"
* CharacterNameAndTheNounPhrase
* ChekhovsGun: [[spoiler:The complimentary limited-edition Knighthood and Decoy cheese knife]] is used to [[spoiler:free Marion from her bindings JustInTime to stop Ashley from shooting Ashens]].
* CollapsingLair: The archive floor, when a wrong note is played.
* CollectorOfTheStrange: Ashens and his tat, or, as he puts it, "rare but completely worthless stuff".
* CrypticConversation: Lampshaded by Chef Excellence when Ashens talks very [[VaguenessIsComing vaguely]].
* CutawayGag: Richard partying in Ashens' house
** [[spoiler:"Free corpse"]]
* DamselInDistress: [[spoiler:Marion, who is taken captive by Ashley]]
* DanceOfRomance: Richard and Mother Iqbal
* DancePartyEnding
* DarkIsNotEvil: The Silver Skull is actually Ashens' {{Jazz}} musician neighbour, and even helps him on his quest.
* DarkSecret: Parodied in Ashens' tat collecting hobby.
-->'''Ashens''': There's something you don't know about me. Something very few people know.
** Played straight with [[spoiler:the Terrifically Good Company's manufacturing process]].
* DeadpanSnarker: Ashens
* DelayedReaction: They are halfway through a conversation before Ashens notices Chef Excellence's red costume.
* DisneyAcidSequence: The animated segment.
** Lampshaded by Ashens:
--->'''Ashens''': Oh, come on! This is unlikely at best!
* DiegeticSoundtrackUsage: Ashens has his Website/YouTube intro music as his ringtone, and Chef Excellence's jingle plays upon his first appearance.
* DisproportionateRetribution: Larry killed 17 people [[spoiler: because they beat his Donkey Kong high score]].
* DramaticUnmask: Of The Silver Skull, who turns out to be [[spoiler:Creator/WarwickDavis]].
* DreamingOfThingsToCome: A claymation scene where Ashens is attacked by POP Station balls and planes, and meets a talking Game Child.
** "Find the Game Child, it is your destiny."
** [[spoiler:Electricity.]]
** Lampshaded by Ashens:
-->'''Ashens''': Well that was bloody obvious, wasn't it? There's nothing worse than a preachy [[StopMotion claymation]].
* DressingAsTheEnemy: Subverted, then played straight. After Ashens and Chef Excellence [[spoiler:capture two security guards, Ashens suggests that they use the same method as Luke and Han in ''Film/ANewHope'. They then [[ComicallyMissingThePoint dress up as Stormtroopers]], and are found out by security. They go back in security uniforms.]]
* DrivesLikeCrazy: Nemesis
* TheElevatorFromIpanema
* EvilFormerFriend: [[spoiler:Ashley, Ashens' ex who [[TeacherStudentRomance slept with his professor]] and now works for the bad guys.]]
* EvilInc: The Terrifically Good Company treats its employees like crap, sells chemically-enhanced junk food to kids [[spoiler: and was run by Ashley's dad who wanted to get his hands on all the Game Childs because they were smuggled nuclear bomb components in disguise]]
* EvilLaugh: Ashley
* ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin: The movie's title.
* ExpectingSomeoneTaller: Ashens' (quite logical) reaction to [[spoiler:Warwick Davis's unmasking as the Silver Skull]].
* {{Fanfare}}: The incidental music resembles this after Ashens [[spoiler:grabs the Game Child]].
* FantasyWorldMap: Of [[spoiler:Sadonion]].
* FigureItOutYourself: The dream Game Child, when Ashens asks it how to find the real one.
* {{Flashback}}: To 1991 Norwich, when Nemesis got the last Game Child.
* FreezeFrameBonus: So many.
** The [[UnreadableDisclaimer tiny disclaimer text]] in Chef Excellence's ad.
* FunnySpoon: Ashens and Geoff meet a crazy guy at the Brown Sofa pub who's convinced spoons don't exist and therefore can be bent with one's mind.
* {{Foreshadowing}}: At the start of the story Ashens is hunting for an intrinsically worthless toy, but rejects the one offered because it's actually the genuine toy and therefore not worthless tat. [[spoiler: He throws away the Game Child at the end of the film because it turns out to be part of a smuggled nuclear bomb and tremendously valueable, and therefore not worthless tat]]
* FunWithSubtitles: Subtitles are used to "translate" the Norfolk dialect in the pub scene into Standard English; a lot of it is understandable anyway.
* TheGuardsMustBeCrazy: Chef Excellence and Ashens avoid their pursuers by [[spoiler:hiding around a corner]].
* HeroicSecondWind: [[spoiler:Ashens' comes three quarters into the film, after has given up. He meets a fan in the street, who encourages him to keep going. Little does he know, she mistook him for Creator/SimonPegg.]]
* HollywoodAcid: Subverted and lampshaded when Iqbal throws a glass of water in Ashens' face.
* HollywoodHacking: Parodied in [[spoiler:Chef Excellence's hacking montage]].
* HonestJohnsDealership: Iqbal, [[spoiler:but inverted in that his goods are actually ''genuine'', when Ashens is looking for counterfeit ones.]]
* ICantHearYou: Ashens to the dream Game Child.
* InsaneTrollLogic: Ashens is very confused as to how [[spoiler:Creator/WarwickDavis, a little man, is the Silver Skull, a quite tall man]].
-->[[spoiler:'''Warwick''': "I'm an ''actor''."]]
* InsistentTerminology: Inverted: Several characters call Ashens' search for the Game Child a "Quest", and he always asks for people to stop calling it that.
* InsultBackfire:
-->'''Nemesis''': Guess where I'm going.
-->'''Ashens''': Your weekly rectal exam?
-->'''Nemesis''': ''No''. That's thursday.
* IntentionalEngrishForFunny: "No need to get your knickers in a tit!"
* IOweYouMyLife: Said by the Guide to Ashens.
* IronicEcho: Ashens repeats Nemesis' catch phrase ("Idiot!") after [[spoiler:punching him in the face]].
* IWantYouToMeetAnOldFriendOfMine: Introducing Geoff to Marion.
* IWorkAlone: Said several times by Ashens, who is reluctant to allow people to join his mission; he says he is "[[Literature/ForWhomTheBellTolls an island]]".
* JumpScare: [[spoiler:The Silver Skull's sudden appearance.]]
* KissingInATree: Chef Excellence sings this about Ashens and Marion.
-->'''Chef Excellence''': I knew it: you like her, don't you? You like her! Ashens and Marion sittin' in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G, F-U--
-->'''Ashens''': [[CurseCutShort Yeah, all right!]] That's enough of that.
* KonamiCode: Used by Ashens to [[spoiler:decrypt the Game Child]].
* KubrickStare: Larry[[spoiler:, until he smiles.]]
* LameComeback:
-->'''Chef Excellence''': That's stupid!
-->'''Ashens''': No it isn't! You're stupid!
* LargeHam: Ashley. You can tell her actress was enjoying herself.
* LaserHallway: [[spoiler:Subverted; Ashens leads Chef Excellence and the audience to believe there are laser traps, when in fact there are none.]]
* LaughablyEvil: Nemesis
* LeftTheBackgroundMusicOn: It is revealed that the ominous music during the reveal of Ashens' secret tat lair was actually being played by the Silver Skull, his next-door neighbour.
* LimitedWardrobe: Averted, in that Ashens' trademark suit and red tie only appears in the ending scene.
* LookBehindYou: Chef Excellence does this to distract Spoon Boy.
* LovableTraitor: [[spoiler:Chef Excellence]]
* MadScientistLaboratory: The lab at the [[spoiler:Terrifically Good Company]].
* TheMagazineRule: Ashens is sent ''Obsolete Technology Monthly''.
* {{Mascot}}: Chef Excellence, and later Chef Brilliance, for the Terrifically Good Company.
* MeaningfulName: Nemesis
* MundaneMadeAwesome: Space Attack and spoon bending.
* MyCarHatesMe: Nemesis, when he is trying to escape with [[spoiler:Iqbal]]
* MyLittlePanzer: The Game Child was recalled because it was "frying kids' eyes and burning their fingers". Later on, [[spoiler: it's revealed that they had been packed with smuggled plutonium and nuclear bomb components, and the one remaining unit in the wild was the trigger.]]
* MysteriousNote: In the magazine Ashens receives; we later learn it was put there by [[spoiler:Ashley]].
* MysteryMeat: Terrifically Good Company lasagnes: "This product may contain horse meat and [[CameFromTheSky an unknown substance we found in a meteorite]]."
* NewAgeRetroHippie: The Guide.
* NoOneSeesTheBoss: The man in the pub says "The professor sees nobody."
* OlderHeroVsYoungerVillain:
-->'''Nemesis''': You're old: a relic of a bygone era.
* OldFriend: Geoff Excellence
* OneSidedArmWrestling: Mother Iqbal beats Richard.
* OnlyTheWorthyMayPass: The Professor says that Ashens must prove himself "worthy" of the quest.
* OopNorth: Ashens' sofa and the Game Child in the animated sequence.
* OverrideCommand: A conveniently-labeled button allows Ashens to shut down the Terrifically Good Company's security.
* PickedLast:
--> ''[Faced with a football]''
--> '''Ashens''': I'm no good at dodging these; only the cool kids were allowed to be in goal!
* PleaseDontLeaveMe: Said by Chef Excellence to Ashens, on multiple occasions.
* PresentDayPast: The flashback to 1991 looks exactly the same as present day (barring Ashens and Nemesis dressed in outrageously exaggerated outfits), mostly noticeable with all the cars in the background. Obviously for budget reason.
* PretentiousPronunciation:
-->'''Ashens''': "Nemesis", that's a ridiculous name!
-->'''Nemesis''': I told you, it's pronounced "Neem-a-sI"! Stress the I! [[GratuitousJapanese It's Japanese.]]
* RaceLift: The original Chef Excellence on the Stay Fresh bags was a stock photo of a white guy with what may have been red hair, whereas Dan Tomlinson has a darker skin tone and black hair. The Chef Excellence puppet Stuart's been using has a very dark skin tone and black hair, so the film's character was probably based on that rather than the stock photo.
* RapidFireTyping: Ashens [[spoiler:on the ORACLE]] and Chef Excellence [[spoiler:on the Terrifically Good Company system]].
* RichesToRags: Both Chef Excellence and Chef Brilliance were the face of the Terrifically Good Company's products; the former was fired, and the latter demoted to security.
* RooftopConfrontation: [[spoiler:Chef Excellence and Chef Brilliance]].
* SadTimesMontage: Ashens, after he is [[spoiler:released from prison]].
* SeriousBusiness: The whole film!
** The Professor's ultimate test of skill. [[spoiler: It's Space Attack]]
** Chef Excellence and his rivalry with Chef Brilliance
* ShoutOut
** Numerous references are made to Ashen's Website/YouTube videos.
*** The character of Chef Excellence is named after [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6CxTGQDmkf8 the mascot of a brand of food storage bags]].
*** Chef Excellence's first name is Geoffrey which was just made up on the spot by Stuart in the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8asnz3E4n4o&t first video]] he appeared in.
*** When Chef Excellence is first seen, the incidental music fades to [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXsN7nwg9iE&ab the jingle]] used for the Chef Excellence title cards that appear in various videos.
*** Sadonion is named after the "sad onion" warning label.
*** The pub is named "The Brown Sofa", after Ashens' famous review furniture.
*** Ashens uses the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDEebdmfqpA Cyber FX]] as a [[spoiler:laser detector]].
*** Various Pop Stations and the "Retieval Mankind's Batman" can be seen in Ashens' secret collection of tat.
*** The animated intro is filled with various items he's reviewed.
*** It also features Vinnie the Vole character from a fake game he once showed on Tech Dump.
*** The final shot of the animated intro features The Proxy posters and graffiti of the Chef Excellence puppet.
** ''Franchise/StarWars'' and ''Film/TheLordOfTheRings'' are quoted numerous times.
*** The Silver Skull tells Ashens that [[Film/TheLordOfTheRingsTheFellowshipOfTheRing "One does not simply walk into Sadonion."]]
*** Lampshaded by the Silver Skull:
---->'''Silver Skull''': Let me look on you with...\\
'''Ashens''': [[Film/ReturnOfTheJedi With your own eyes]], yes.\\
'''Silver Skull''': I'm [[spoiler:dying]] here! I can quote whatever I like!
** The opening to the film has a very similar style to the ones seen in ''Film/JamesBond'' films.
** The ORACLE vault door scene is a major shout out to the "play the bones" scene in ''Film/TheGoonies'', down to Ashens' dead-on impression of Andi.
** Ashens has a Creator/HarryPartridge poster on his living room shelf.
** The shot of Ashens looking through a pair of binoculars, then Geoff sidling up next to him and looking through a spyglass is a reference to an identical shot from ''Film/MadMax2TheRoadWarrior''.
** Marian is named after the distressed damsel from VideoGame/DoubleDragon, and even wears a red dress like the character did in the original game.
* SinisterShades: Ashley
* SongsInTheKeyOfLock: [[spoiler:The ORACLE vault door code is unlocked by playing the correct notes on a nearby keyboard. Playing the wrong notes causes the floor to collapse.]]
* StopMotion: The dream sequence
* StrokeTheBeard: Ashens does this when he [[spoiler:gets close to the Game Child for the first time]].
* TakeThat:
**
--->'''Chef Excellence''': [[Creator/StuartAshen Reviewing bits of tat on a brown sofa?]] It's not exactly ''Film/TheMatrix'', is it? Maybe the third one.
**
--->''[While playing Frisbee]''
--->'''Ashens''': This is like ''Film/TronLegacy'', only less disappointing.
* TalkAboutTheWeather:
-->'''Ashens''': Lovely weather we're having... for this time of year. It's nice for this month on average.
* ThirdPersonPerson: The Silver Skull.
* ThrowTheDogABone: In the end, [[spoiler:Geoff Excellence has his own successful Website/YouTube channel]].
* TooMuchInformation:
-->'''Richard''': Well, this is the place.
-->'''Ashens''': Are you sure?
-->'''Richard''': Bet my left hairy bollock on it.
-->'''Ashens''': Thanks Richard, that's a mental picture I'll treasure.
* TheTreacheryOfImages: Parodied with "Spoon Boy".
* UnholyMatrimony: [[spoiler:Ashley and Nemesis]]
* VictoryIsBoring:
-->'''Nemesis''': Aren't you tired of losing to me? Even I'm bored of it!
* VillainousBreakdown: [[spoiler:Ashley, after Ashens destroys the Game Child.]]
* VoiceChangeling: [[spoiler:Warwick Davis's voice somehow changes to the Silver Skull's when he dons the mask.]]
* WalkIntoMordor: Parodied: "One does not simply walk into Sadonion."
* WilhelmScream: Heard by Ashens and Chef Excellence outside [[spoiler:Sadonion]], and used by them when [[spoiler:they are beaten up by Terrifically Good Company guards]].
* WimpFight:
** Ashens and Chef Excellence do this a couple of times.
** Ashens gives The Professor a noogie.
** [[spoiler:Chef Excellence and Chef Brilliance]] at the end.
* TheXOfY: Ashens calls Chef Excellence "the [[UsefulNotes/McDonalds Ronald McDonald]] of cheap Italian food".
* YouMightRememberMeFrom[[invoked]]:
-->'''Warwick Davis''': You may remember me from the ''Franchise/StarWars'' and ''Film/HarryPotter'' franchises, as well as the popular 1988 fantasy film ''{{Film/Willow}}''.
* YourMom:
-->'''Ashens''': God, you're a right pain in the arse.
-->'''Nemesis''': A right pain in your mum's arse!
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