Pixels Review: Nostalgia is the only thing driving this film

Director: Chris Columbus

Cast: Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Josh Gad, Peter Dinklage, Michelle Monaghan, Sean Bean, Brian Cox

Rating: ***

What's it about
Saving the world, obviously. If the trailers haven't told you that already, that's what President Cooper and his friend Brenner and acquaintances Ludlow and Eddie are up to. They're not the brightest bulbs in the business, but when it comes to video games, they're world champions. And what held true in 1982, might still be applicable today, right?

Anyway, that singularly specific trait comes handy when alien invaders come attacking as the video games they were champs in, except they're a lot bigger and misunderstood a video feed as a declaration of war. And they say there's intelligent life out there. Go figure!

What's hot
Nostalgia is what drives this film. If you grew up in the 80s, when games like Pac-Man, Donkey Kong, Galaga et al, were all the rage, this one will bring all the memories rushing back.

That, apart from 'safe bet' Adam Sandler, who knows how to play his cards, as the headlining act, and you just know that the film will be an entertainer, in the very least. He's sincere, does the same tricks, has the same spiel. Well, you know what they say, "If it ain't broke..."

Sean Bean's in this film. And it becomes one of the few films (or the only one?) where he doesn't die before the film ends. And that's saying something, right? Right?

What's not
Apart from what I just mentioned, the film has very little going for it. Kevin James (as Cooper) and Adam (as Brenner) are on autopilot. The effects are strictly okay, except pre-climax when the aliens go full firepower. And we're missing Rob Schneider here. Dinklage has his charms but even that isn't enough here. Gad's godawful bad as Ludlow as is Brian Cox as Admiral Porter. Michelle Monaghan as Adam's love interest has barely anything to do. And that's a crying shame.

And whatever happened to Chris Columbus?

What to do
This would have to count as one of Columbus's laziest efforts. And Sandler's, for sure. Guys, it shows when you're trying too hard!