Tuesday, September 1, 2015

Review of PIXELS: Nifty and Nostalgic

September 1, 2015



Because of terrible reviews that plagued "Pixels", I did not really plan to watch this movie at all. However, my kids all wanted to watch it, so I begrudgingly went with them. While watching the film though, it would turn out that I would have the best time of us all.

In the arcade game world championships of 1982, 13-year old Sam Brenner and his fellow nerdy friends Will Cooper and Ludlow Lamonsoff battled it out in various video games. A recording of this event was included in a time capsule launched into space.

Fast forward to the present day, Brenner is working as an installer of home theater systems. His close friend Cooper is now the President of the United States! One day, unknown forces from outer space invaded a military base in Guam, reducing the place into pixel cubes. When President Cooper noted that the alien attacked with a pattern reminiscent of the old arcade game Galaga, he called in his best friend Brenner for his video game expertise.

Adam Sandler plays a underachieving nerd yet again, as he had done in many of his previous films. His was such a generic performance as we had seen from him before -- a smart-alecky loser or slacker type who inexplicably still manages to hook up with the hottest ladies (Michelle Monaghan, in this case). Ultimately, even if Sandler was the lead character here, it was his co-stars who come up with more memorable performances.

Kevin James, with his perpetual good-guy vibe, plays a bumbling but very congenial American president. I thought this was a fun and witty bit of casting. James was able to pull off that balance of portraying foolishness with restraint to somehow maintain the dignity of his presidential role. 

Josh Gad is another actor with a such a warm sense of goodwill about him. Even if his character Lamonsoff was this annoying conspiracy nut pathetically lovestruck with Lady Lisa of the video game Dojo Quest, Gad's face has such a goofy innocent charm that we cannot help but root his on. 

Maybe Sandler was a fan of "Game of Thrones" because we see two noted actors from that HBO series in this film. Peter Dinklage played Brenner's nemesis Eddie Plant as sort of a spinoff from his role as Tyrion Lannister -- smart, sinister and sneaky ladies' man.  It was good to see Ned Stark himself, Sean Bean, is a short hilarious role as a British soldier.

Classic arcade games like Centipede, Donkey Kong and Pacman (along with Inky, Blinky, Pinky and Clyde) were very imaginatively conceptualized and depicted as larger-than-life games where human characters can interact within the playing field. I found those video clips of personalities from the '80s, notably Madonna and Daryl Hall, whom the aliens used to deliver their messages quite funny as well.

I do not really know what the serious movie critics were looking for when they panned this film with their harsh reviews. I thought "Pixels" delivered exactly what it aimed for. Yes it was shallow and silly, but that what it was supposed to be. It had me and my kids laughing out loud and yearning to play those classic video games again, so I think it totally worked. I disagree that there was any desecration done to these '80s icons. 

Director Chris Columbus really has a magical way with working with childhood memories in his movies. He made this film very enjoyable and entertaining for all ages, especially those who grew up on arcade games. Of course, there a few awkward comic misfires here and there, as Adam Sandler films generally have. However, I think many children of the 1980s would welcome this opportunity to revisit the fun childhood we miss. 7/10.


23 comments:

  1. I love Adam Sandler movies, my husband too. We just watched the trailer of this movie on Youtube the other and definitely thought that it's a movie worth watching. With your 7 out 10 rating, I am more convinced than ever now. :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. I've been waiting for this movie for the longest time! So fun. I love Adam Sandler and his troop of comedians.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Those of us who can recognize the characters from video games in Pixels are thrilled to watch the movie. I'm also one who grew up with these games. The trailer looks catchy but I'm not sure if Adam Sandler's weird comical remarks will cheer me up.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I'm glad that Pixels wasn't as bad as most people said! I would love to watch this just for the sake of nostalgia haha :D

    ReplyDelete
  5. I love Chris Columbus's movies! He also directed the first 3 movies of the Harry Potter series. His movies are always colourful and vibrant.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Haha... Same here, I wasn't planning to catch Pixel because of the reviews. But, different here, I haven't caught it yet and am not planning to anytime soon... Can't wait for Scorch Trails!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Adam Sandlers are mostly hit and miss but it appeals to kids. This would really bring back 80s video game memories.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I heard that Pixels was a really fun movie to watch! Looks like you enjoyed it a lot, and yeah it looks like it'll bring me back to my childhood.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Not sure whether i will be going to watch this one but my kids for sure want to watch it. They are too excited for it.

    ReplyDelete
  10. i love this movie! it's really easy to watch and quite entertaining. cooper is so cute!

    ReplyDelete
  11. i love this movie! it's really easy to watch and quite entertaining. cooper is so cute!

    ReplyDelete
  12. This is a very interesting movie! Love it a lot! It reminds me a lot of 80's arcade games.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I heard that it was a bad film too. Now I'm reconsidering because you said that you had a great time watching it.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I didn't really have any desire to see this film either, as I'm not a big Adam Sandler fan. But it's interesting to hear that they had all those 80's video games -- I loved Centipede and Pac Man. Maybe when it comes out on Netflix I'll check it out, just for nostalgia's sake.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Well, I am not a fan of Pixels so might give it a miss coz the story line does not attracts me even though Adam Sandler is one of my favourite comedy actor.

    ReplyDelete
  16. I enjoy Adam Sandler everytime I watch him. For your rating 7/10, I surely must watch this film soon.

    ReplyDelete
  17. I still haven't watched Pixels but am planning to this weekend my daughter. Good to know from your review that it's not crappy. :)

    ReplyDelete
  18. Adam Sandler Films are really great not just for the kids but for adults as well. I'm planning to watch this with my daughter. It really brings back my child hood days playing family computer :)

    ReplyDelete
  19. Adam Sandler Films are really great not just for the kids but for adults as well. I'm planning to watch this with my daughter. It really brings back my child hood days playing family computer :)

    ReplyDelete
  20. pixels is a great film, but i don't think it's suitable for kids because of language and suggestive remarks

    ReplyDelete
  21. I have heard so much about the movie but not the type that I prefer. Hope you had fun watching it.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Hmmm...when I watch the teaser of this movie, I said, this is not the type of movie I like to watch.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Interesting idea of a movie, really. My kids are video games junkie and this is the kind of movie that will probably encourage them more about how video gaming can be a viable career option... Hmmmmmm!

    ReplyDelete