"Pixels" reminds me of a game I played years ago called "Sonic Unleashed." The game received bad reviews, but when I played it, I couldn't understand why.
Perhaps it was because I thought the concept was strong enough to pull up a lot of its mediocrity to enjoyable levels.
It wasn't perfect; the controls were idiotic and I still cringe when I hear the word "werehog," but the game's good parts made me overlook its many flaws.
"Pixels" is a lot like that. Through the sheer power of an interesting concept, it manages to make Adam Sandler and Kevin James tolerable while providing smooth entertainment.
That in itself counts as an accomplishment. Previous Sandler and James films seemed to live so much off of horrible scenes, they ended up reaching a zen-state of anti-funny. "Paul Blart 2" lived in this world so much that I referred to it as the first post-comedy film.
Yet either in spite of or because of their awkward placing in a summer blockbuster, the two actors rise to the occasion and fit in among a decorated cast who are all professional enough to take old video games seriously.
In fact, professional is a good word to describe this entire film. Director Chris Columbus brought us "Home Alone" and the first two "Harry Potter" films, so he knows how to both work with children and bring out the child in all of us.
He manages to evoke nostalgic images while infusing them with a modern explosions and action. It was unexpectedly thrilling to watch "Pac-Man" on the big screen, and a lot of scenes were able to capture the magic of the '80s.
It's a good thing this film has a strong premise and director because it covers up for a very weak story. The movie never delves into why the aliens behind the invasion would commit their actions.
In addition, while the final battle is fun to watch, it ends up feeling like an anti-climax.
I blame it on the jarring shifts of tone; there are times where this movie doesn't know if it wants to be a PG-13 action film or a PG family comedy, likely due to Sandler's presence.
Some will pick apart the awkward time jumps and absurdity of fighting video game characters as proof that this is a poor idea mixed with a poor cast and script, but if you get what it's going for, you'll enjoy every 8-bit.
Maybe I'm just sensitive to liking flawed products. From time to time, I'll still pop in my copy of "Sonic Unleashed" and enjoy the imperfect package.
Reach the reporter at jagger.czajka@asu.edu or follow @JaggerCzajka on Twitter.
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