2.5/5
While my expectations of Adam Sandler are admittedly low these days, with Kevin James and Josh Gad in tow PIXELS certainly has enough comedy clout to get you in the front door. It is, unfortunately down hill from there. Opening in the 80s we see three young guys immersed in the gaming world, Brenner (Sandler) is the best, following the patterns and beating every game, until he gets knocked off the top spot by ‘Fireblaster’ (Peter Dinklage) in a Donky Kong Battle. Cut to the present day and Brenner is a tech nerd fitting appliances because being a gamer didn’t pay off the way he hoped, and his friend is – you guessed it- President of the United States of America (you didn’t guess? It’s a huge leap with no prior indication of the possibility you say? Well that’s a bit of a theme in this film!). Cut again to an army base where soldiers find themselves defenceless under attack by weapons that appear to be lifted straight from an 80s video game- Aliens had seen the video of the 80s gaming battle sent up in a NASA probe and took it as a challenge, of course.
This film takes a few too many giant plot leaps to arrive at the scenario Sandler was after, but once it gets there it is genuinely good fun. Yes it’s a bit silly, entirely implausible (even by alien invasion movie standards) and yes the script reads more like the film was intended to be a pixar animation than a live action feature, but it is entertaining, and even laugh out loud funny in parts. It’s a real shame though, because given any amount of plot development, and character depth, we’re willing to go along with just about anything in the name of a great movie, but Sandler let’s himself down on that front. There are bright spots, namely how much the child in me was truly fixated enjoying seeing childhood digital games brought to life in the physical world, but overall it’s clumsy, awkward and completely random.
Pixels is off to a shaky start at box offices around the world but so long as you know what you’re in for, and brace yourself for good, silly fun, and not much else, then you might just like this movie, and if not, wait to enjoy it as part of Netflix’s deal with Adam Sandler, no doubt you won’t have to wait too long.
PS. Yes the black guy got pixelated first, and look out for Serena Williams looking every bit the superstar, but playing the sexist role of a trophy.
