Pixels (2015)

 

Boy, this film received a thrashing from critics across the board. Not justified, by the way. Sure, it is a silly film, but it's really hard to dislike this one even if it is quaint. Maybe it just boils down to how well you can stomach Adam Sandler? He's fine in this one, by the way. He has made quite a lot of projects that truly are horrible, but this is actually decent and even fun if you leave your brain at the door. 

During the early 1980s and the advent of arcade halls, Sam Brenner is poised to be one of the best players in the world. But when he gets defeated at the first World Championships by a new game called 'Donkey Kong', he becomes a bit disillusioned and eventually grows up to be a tv-installer, even though he is actually way too smart for this. His best friend has gone on to be president of the USA, but his approval rating is anything but okay. 

After the videogame championships back in the 80s, they sent out a probe into space containing footage of these games, and this footage was discovered by aliens who actually saw it all as an invitation to war. These aliens have come to Earth in the guise of some of those classic games and now challenge Earth to a duel. Three losses means the Earth will be obliterated. Now it is up to Brenner and some of his friends/acquaintances/etc to fight back, but with a lot more at stake than just losing quarters... 

Yep, the idea is bonkers. But it actually works if you just accept that it is all goofy. You get to see grown men run around, shooting light guns at centipedes, people getting pixelated by Galaga or even having a go at Pac-Man in the streets of New York with Mini Coopers coloured like the ghosts from that game. 

Is a large part of that nostalgia? Absolutely! But it just clicks in a way one wouldn't always expect. Not all the jokes are great. Some are a bit forced and especially Josh Gad and Peter Dinklage get the short end of the stick when it comes to either corny or weird humour, but for the most part it actually works. Sandler is fairly restrained and that works to his advantage. 

Don't expect a full-on masterpiece, but as far as fun little adventures go, you could do a lot worse.