Today’s quick review: Pixels. Once a world-class video game player, Sam Brenner (Adam Sandler) now has a dead-end job and no prospects. But he gets a second chance to shine when video game-themed aliens invade Earth. To fight off the aliens, President Cooper (Kevin James), Sam’s childhood friend, assembles a task force including Sam, his friend Ludlow (Josh Gad), his rival Eddie (Peter Dinklage), and Violet (Michelle Monaghan), their DARPA liaison.
Pixels is a sci-fi action comedy about an arcade-themed alien invasion that only a team of misfit gamers can stop. Pixels pits Adam Sandler and company against arcade classics such as Centipede, Pac-Man, and Donkey Kong, brought to life as large, glowing constructs that destroy anything they touch. The movie banks on a combination of mainstream comedy, large-scale sci-fi action, and arcade nostalgia. However, its execution leaves something to be desired.
Pixels earns some laughs with its absurd premise and ridiculous characters, but its jokes miss as often as they hit. The film consistently goes for cheap humor with broad appeal rather than the geekier humor its premise would imply. Many of the jokes connect just fine—Sam’s sarcastic quips, Cooper’s antics as an everyman president, and Eddie’s outrageous ego—but enough of them land awkardly to dissuade anyone who’s watching for the comedy alone.
However, Pixels’ greatest failing is its inability to sell its premise. The arcade invasion is far-fetched at best, and the problem is only exacerbated by loose plot logic that keeps the viewer picking at holes instead of having fun. Pixels depends on the audience seeing the action scenes with the same awe and excitement that its characters do, but it never manages to pull this off. The action is flashy but lacks the credibility to make it mean anything.
As a result, Pixels never quite clicks. Those who can lose themselves in giant games of Pac-Man and Centipede will enjoy the movie for what it is: a nostalgic romp with some exciting action and a couple of good laughs. But viewers who are even slightly skeptical will trip over the movie’s premise, plot holes, or failed jokes and walk away unsatisfied. Pixels tries its best to be a fun popcorn watch, but most viewers will find that it comes up short.
For a more heartfelt tribute to classic arcade games, try Wreck-It Ralph. For a flashier, video game-based sci-fi adventure, try Ready Player One. For another sci-fi comedy about a nerdy interest made real, try Galaxy Quest. For a more dramatic alien invastion movie, try Independence Day. For a more creative adventure with video game influences, try Scott Pilgrim vs. the World. For a more iconic comedy built around a similar team, try Ghostbusters.
5.6 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.0 to 6.5 for mixed humor and decent action, held back by comedic missteps and a premise that’s hard to sell.