Pixels

Starring: Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Michelle Monaghan, Peter Dinklage, Josh Gad, Matt Lintz, Brian Cox, Sean Bean, Jane Krakowski, Dan Aykroyd, Ashley Benson, Serena Williams, Martha Stewart, Robert Smigel, Nick Swardson (uncredited)
Directed by: Chris Columbus
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Action, Comedy, Science Fiction
2015

Times Seen:
Tim: 2

Summary: In the 1980s, NASA sends a space probe with footage of video games. An intelligent alien species mistakes the footage for a declaration of war, and send armies designed after the video games to destroy Earth.

Review:

Tim: The idea that an alien race attacks the Earth using video game characters from the 1980s does achieve one cool purpose- it allows us to watch humans fighting classic video game characters like Pac-Man, Donkey Kong, and Centipede. That aspect of Pixels is certainly one of the highlights of the movie. Who wouldn't want to tap into nostalgia by watching people take on life-size versions of the classic video games? I get that appeal. Unfortunately, to achieve this in the story, we have to suspend our disbelief on so much. This, along with a number of other flaws prevents Pixels from fully achieving its objectives.

The biggest issue here is that the movie asks us to believe that an intelligent alien species that has the capability to travel to Earth and attack our planet could also be so stupid as to mistake video game footage for a declaration of war, then shape their attack after those same video games, including following all of the rules. Why would any sentient species do this? If an alien species sent footage of video games to us, would we mimic those games in our invasion attempt? Hell no, we'd decimate them in the simplest, most effective manner possible. We certainly wouldn't give them multiple attempts to defeat us. This is the biggest issue with the film and it undermines the entire story. It's such a cool idea to have us fighting video game characters, but it makes zero logical sense. Therefore, the whole film can't be taken seriously. Even as a comedy, this is just such an absurd premise.

This is a shame, because it's legitimately fun to watch these enormous, colorful video game characters on the screen. The movie does a great job with the visuals- it's really cool to see a giant Pac-Man causing devastation in a city, or the life-size Donkey Kong board (although the actions of the humans on it was so ridiculous). Hanging out with Q*bert, even seeing the dog from Duck Hunt- this film is dripping in 1980s video game nostalgia and it was great fun watching all that. That's really just such an appealing aspect of this film.

The cast was okay. Adam Sandler is getting too old for these man-child movies, but it's still enjoyable to see him play this kind of role. His humor works within the context of the film. He does a good job. It was nice to see Kevin James here, but I just could never buy him as the President of the United States. The movie didn't do a good job of selling me on this. That hurt the movie. Josh Gad added some great humor and was believable in his role. I love Peter Dinklage, but his character was a bit too over-the-top. The whole Serena Williams/Martha Stewart thing was funny, but it was all just too much. Dinklage never felt believable because he was so cartoonish. Michelle Monaghan added a good supporting performance- her presence absolutely made this movie better. I lamented that Brian Cox and Sean Bean- both excellent actors- were wasted in pointless roles here. The one highlight is that we get to see them hug in fear, which is not a sight I ever expected to see. Dan Aykroyd's brief role was good, but it felt like his presence here just set up his skull head vodka (of which I own), rather than any value he added to the movie.

Pixels is kind of a fun movie, but it's also relentlessly stupid. It's impossible to take anything seriously. It feels like a movie that might have a good idea buried somewhere in it, but a series of decisions were made that decrease the film's effectiveness. It might have a few humorous moments, but they are amidst a sea of unfunny ones. It feels like a film that's caught between sophomoric humor and the fact that it's cast are too old to deliver jokes that immature. I didn't hate the movie- like I said, there's some nostalgia fun factor that helps bring an entertaining quality to the film. Unfortunately, Chris Columbus just didn't have enough to work with here. Pixels isn't a bad movie, but it needed to be a lot better than this.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 6



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: The King of Kong, Jumanji