Review: ‘Pixels’ needs higher-resolution performances

Synopsis

When video feeds of classic arcade games are sent into outer space, aliens take it as an assertion of war. They attack Earth, taking the form of old-school video game characters. It is up to game masters Brenner (Adam Sandler), Eddie (Peter Dinklage) and Ludlow (Josh Gad) to save the world from an alien invasion.

Pixels has an enjoyable concept and a fantastic supporting cast in Gad, Dinklage and Michelle Monaghan. The CGI is exceptional and makes every battle with the arcade aliens exciting and memorable.

We were pleasantly surprised at how much we enjoyed this film because we generally can’t stand anything from Happy Madison productions from the past few years.

We think a lot of the credit for the film’s success goes to the director, Chris Columbus. He does a fantastic job with the action but, unfortunately, he has no cure for Sandler, once again, phoning in his performance. Sandler continues to rely on the same schtick he’s been cultivating since the early 2000s.

Kevin James is even worse. He manages to ruin every scene he is in while making sure to stop the pace of the movie at the same time.

What Worked

We thought what made this film enjoyable was fantastic CGI and entertaining battle scenes. It truly looked like Pac-Man was devouring New York city streets.

We also thought Gad and Dinklage were great. They provided almost every laugh. We wish they would have been utilized more. They were the best non-CGI parts of this film.

We also enjoyed the nostalgia created by this movie. We grew up in the ’80s and played all the games featured. It was a blast to see them on the screen, being reintroduced to the younger generations.

What Didn’t Work

We felt there was a plot hole with the aliens’ story.

The film never really delves into the aliens’ motivation or explains why a hostile civilization with such advanced technology doesn’t just wipe out our planet.

We thought Kevin James as the U.S. president was, hands down, the worst part of this film. Everything he did felt contrived and his brand of fat-guy-falling-down humor was out of place.

We also believe the movie focused too heavily on character development and spent little time focusing on the story and climax, which would have really improved the film.

This actually was one of Adam Sandler’s best performances in recent years, but that’s not saying much when he’s up against the likes of “Jack and Jill” or “That’s My Boy.”

Although this wasn’t the greatest film of the year, it also wasn’t the worst. We recommend watching this movie, but it can wait for your home screen.

We give this comedy a 5 out of 10.

This story was originally published July 30, 2015 at 3:35 PM with the headline "Review: ‘Pixels’ needs higher-resolution performances."