Pixels (2015)
Certified: PG
Duration: 105 minutes
Directed by: Chris Columbus
Starring: Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Josh Gad, Peter Dinklage, Michelle Monaghan, Matt Lintz, Brian Cox, Ashley Benson, Jane Krakowski, Denis Akiyama, Sean Bean, Affion Crockett, Dan Aykroyd, Lainie Kazan, Jackie Sandler
KRS Releasing Ltd

Adam Sandler is Sam Brenner whose life at some point got derailed. He was supposed to become one of the greatest inventors/personalities of our time. In 1982, he was one of the main competitors in videogame tournaments and was classified a genius. But he now works as an installer of audio/TV equipment while his marriage is heading towards divorce. However, he is still best friends with Will Cooper (Kevin James), who had been one of the best in the arcade playing days, and is now the US president.

While doing a job for Violet Van Patten (Michelle Monaghan), who has just been through a divorce, he falls for her but he ends botching it up. That is when aliens make their appearance and unleash an attack on the world.

Some time ago Nasa had placed a time capsule full of 1980s memorabilia and the aliens perceived this to be an attack threat on them and so war was kicked off. Their attack is inspired by the pop culture video games iconic of the times and giant pixelated versions of Pac-Man and Donkey Kong start causing chaos and destruction.

Sam is brought on the national defence team by President Cooper due to his expertise in the gaming scene. He finds out that Violet’s job is a military one and that she is a lieutenant colonel. Soon a team of ‘arcaders’ is set up including: Ludlow Lamonsof (Josh Gad), who is obsessed with conspiracy theories, and Eddie ‘The Fire Blaster’ Plant (Peter Dinklage), once the Donkey Kong champion.

Kevin James (left) appoints Michelle Monaghan, Adam Sandler, Josh Gad and Peter Dinklage to save earth from aliens in Pixels.Kevin James (left) appoints Michelle Monaghan, Adam Sandler, Josh Gad and Peter Dinklage to save earth from aliens in Pixels.

Pixels received a slugging by critics very much in line with all the recent Sandler movies. However, the silliness of the whole premise and the entire nostalgia factor really grabbed me by the neck and I enjoyed it.

Director Chris Columbus (Mrs Doubtfire, Home Alone and the first two Harry Potter movies) milks the nostalgia factor for all its worth. The film is laced with an intermittent number of 1980s references which makes this film quite a trip down memory lane. Apart from games, the film references the likes of Madonna, Weird Science and Ronald Reagan.

The flimsy plot is understandable since the origin of the film was the 22-minute 2010 short film by French director Patrick Jean which saw the world invaded by classic pixelated characters.

Columbus does not try to reinvent the wheel and lets the cast play out to their stereotyped on-screen personas. Thankfully, Sandler is given a very strong supporting cast, thus making sure that not all the attention is on him and this provides more enjoyment. James is particularly strong while Gad is once again over the place in a good way. Dinklage is a hoot as too is his fixation on Serena Williams.

Scriptwise, the alien factor is never really explored in depth but it goes all out to simply have fun.

The 1980s come alive again in this polished and slick-looking movie. Seeing buildings getting vaporised arcade-style, Donkey Kong doing his ape best and racing with minis to battle it out with Pac Man is really cool.

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