Adam Sandler's Pixels was a good, fun movie. Probably not a summer blockbuster but, a great film to watch while hanging out with your friends, or to waste time. Though there is a huge negative reaction from moviegoers, Pixels does offer a lot from different film genres. Since its a Happy Madison Production, comedy is used throughout the film alongside science fiction and action. Sandler plays Sam Brenner, a use-to-be arcade gamer, whom used mathematics skills to win classic games such as Pac-Man or Centipede. Unfortunately, he lost a chance to be world champion to his nemesis-turned-ally Eddie Plant (Dinklage). As a bonus for the children playing in the championship, recordings of their performances were sent to NASA to be included for an intergalactic time capsule to be sent into space to find extraterrestrials. Now years later, him and his friends must help him win a real life threat against their favorite, classical arcade game characters.
The casting in an Sandler film is usually predictable. You have Kevin James playing the chubby friend of Brenner whom later becomes the President of the United States. Then you have the lead female role, Michelle Monaghan, as the predictable love choice. Finally, you have the crazy friend (Josh Gad) whom is just plain weird, awkward, and had been idolizing a fictional female character throughout most of his life to the point that it just gets creepy. Now the film does offer a lot of good cameos such as Dan Aykroyd, Martha Stewart, Serena Williams, and Nick Swardson.
Most of the comedy in the film was basically Sandler's comeback attitude with a few good jokes here and there. I personally did find myself laughing throughout and I must say that the comedic tone in the film was actually pretty good: quick'n'witty. The thing I didn't enjoy most was Q-Bert's involvement in the film. He took a mascot-like role in Pixels similar to that of Slimer in Ghostbusters. The thing I didn't like about him after his introduction was that they gave him a stupid comedic sense of humor, an annoying voice (barely trying to stay true to the original classic arcade character), and an unnecessary PG-13-type personality. Though he is a lovable mascot in the film, I feel that they should have stayed true to him including the hard-to-understand language he spoke similar to that in Wreck-It Ralph.
My favorite scene throughout the film was probably when the team had to play a real-life Pac-Man game in New York City. Most films are most memorable for different scenes such as Sharknado's chainsaw bit, or Channing Tatum's reaction in 22 Jump Street but, I personally feel as though Pac-Man's appearance and defeat was truly memorable. From the heart-warming speech about Pac-Man's creation to the ghost-like Mini Coopers; this scene will be known throughout movie history as something truly epic and unforgettable. The worst scene in my opinion was Q-Bert's transformation and the aftermath. This was probably the most stupidest part of the film, and it was a lame way for ending a film like this.
My rating for Pixels is a solid 3.5 out of 5. The reason mainly centers around the Pac-Man scene and the soul of the story. What if video game characters were real, or what if life was like a video game? The reason its not any higher is because, like most Sandler films; they get either stupid half way through, or the comedy overcomes the true essence it has on the viewer. The music included in the film was alright and the Scott Pilgrim vs. the World-like sense shown in the beginning got kinda old later on during the centipede attack scene. The whole Q-Bert's use as a mascot is truly saddening. I'm not hating on Q-Bert but, I wished they took him seriously instead of them turning him into a joke like Yogi Bear or the Chipmunks. For Pixels, critical thinking shouldn't be introduced into the film but, having fun should be instead. Watch this film as a fun film, not a summer blockbuster.
"Don't tell anyone I killed a smurf"
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