Pixels review - Adam Sandler's best in years... which isn't saying much

Video-game experts from the 80s do battle with aliens who have taken on the form of classic characters.

Pixels is Adam Sandler’s best film in years. Admittedly that wouldn’t be hard when his recent releases include Jack and Jill, That’s My Boy and two Grown Ups movies but for the first time in awhile it actually looks like the 48 year old is trying. Sort of.

He’s playing a loser who used to be good at video games in the 80s who suddenly becomes important again when the most unlikely alien invasion ever happens. Personally I really liked the central concept of aliens misinterpreting our signals and threatening war with pixelated 80s icons, especially when you consider the kicking off point was a weird short from 2010.

Sandler’s backup in this mission includes Kevin James (who is also the President of the USA, because why not), Josh Gad and Peter Dinklage. That’s an interesting mix, and all the better for including few of Sandler’s regular castmates.

Some decent special effects follow, and the film manages a unique look by being able to avoid photo real creations. Pac-Man, Centipede, Donkey Kong and the rest are supposed to look pixelated and unreal, and the way they are brought to life in 3D is a triumph of design and implementation. The set pieces are engaging enough and the energy of Gad in particular keeps things ticking over.

The female roles aren’t particularly well drawn but Michelle Monaghan does what she can, despite being locked in a budding relationship with Sandler which is more like watching a car crash in slow motion.

Director Chris Columbus seems to be having some fun here as well, though his days of hits like Home Alone and Harry Potter and long behind him. Still there’s a nostalgic thrill in seeing these iconic characters being given so much big screen attention, and in settings which make it seem like the filmmakers actually care about how they’re treated.

The question remains though of who the film is for? It would appear to be aiming at a younger audience but that demographic almost certainly doesn’t care about Q*bert. And there’s not a lot here to engage older audiences, beyond the nostalgia factor.

Still I found it entertaining enough, especially in light of Sandler’s recent filmography. If you’ve got a soft spot for these ageing characters (both the actors and video game sorts) then you might find Pixels more enjoyable than the incredibly harsh reviews would suggest.

3/5

- Daniel Anderson