Pixels

This is the worst Chris Columbus film I have seen up to this point. He has the talent and experience to make some great movies so what went wrong? I think that it was the script and the fact that this was also an Adam Sandler production. I also do not like how the show was marketed. The movie has its funny moments but unlike what we were made to believe from the trailers, "Pixels" is a film for kids and not the adults who played these video games when they were younger.

As mentioned, the trailer says one thing about this show and the film itself says another. I guess part of my frustration about the marketing is my own fault because I should have known what kind a movie "Pixels" was with actors such as Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Peter Dinklage and Josh Gad. The trailer had a slightly more serious tone than the actual film and I think the show would have been a lot better if it had the more realistic feel that we were promised. Sandler has been able to affectively balance fantasy with the real-life world before in "Bedtime Stories" and Columbus made the first two Harry Potter films so "Pixels" seemed to be in good hands. I understand that it is hard to be realistic when your movie contains retro video games but if Marvel can bring their comic book characters to life in a believable film universe, why not these filmmakers? This is not to say that the movie contained lousy special effects. On the contrary, "Pixels" was successful with how the computer effects interacted with real elements. The CGI characters themselves are meant to look old school so I have no problem with that. The main reason why the film lacked the verisimilitude I desired is because of problems with the script. First off, we never see the aliens or their original form. We are told about how the aliens received the time capsule and got the wrong impression but we don't see this happen. Instead, the film is confined to the earth. A faceless hero doesn’t work on film. Sauron was represented by a giant flaming eye. Kevin James' character was also not handled well. I think a less comedic actor should have been cast as Cooper and the prologue should have alluded to his future job. While it was funny to find out who Cooper became after he was grown up, it made for a less believable story. Other flaws involve the character Q*bert. He was quite adorable but when the other characters suddenly realize that Q*bert knows the enemy, I asked myself why did it take them so long to realize that. When Q*bert randomly morphs into Lisa, that fel way too convenient. Finally, there is a lack of resolution with Sam and Eddie's plotlines. Sure Sam gets the girl but what about a better job? Also, Eddie gets off for cheating too easily. He jeopardized the world for crying out loud! He wasn't enough of a good guy in this film for us to let that go.

Comic timing is the best part of the movie. My favorite scene is Sam's victory celebration as he enters the Oval Office. In addition to the other actors I have already mentioned, there are other familiar names in "Pixels" such as Brian Cox and Dan Aykroyd. Michelle Monaghan was so much better in "Mission: Impossible III". The real Toru Iwatani by the way has a cameo in Electric Dream Factory. I can’t tell how the filmmakers did it but the actor playing Eddie at 13 years old looks so much like Peter Dinklage. There must have been some CGI work involved in that part of the prologue. Henry Jackman, the musical composer on “Wreck-It Ralph”, composed the music for this film so that is fitting. I don't blame Chris Columbus for the shortcomings in "Pixels". The script didn’t give him much help. Also, Chris Columbus and Adam Sandler's styles did not mix well. The film is funny but it is a movie for kids unlike what the marketing would have you believe. "Pixels" might not make its money back and if it does, the profit might not be enough to cover the additional $20 million in marketing costs. The idea for this movie is a good one but the film itself had trouble balancing its nostalgia, comedy and action. "Futurama" did it better and it only took up a third of the whole episode.

2.5 Stars