'Pixels' - Movie Review

'Pixels'
U/A; Comedy/Sci-Fi
Director: Chris Columbus
Cast: Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Michelle Monaghan, Peter Dinklage, Josh Gad
Rating:

'Pixels' poster. Pic/Santa Banta

What is it about Adam Sandler that makes him such an unlikable person? His face? His constant comedic screaming? His unfunny 'goofy voice'? It's all of that. He's kind of the reverse Midas, where everything he touches turned into golden crap. His early movies were some of the all time best, like 'Airheads' for instance, but all of his recent work makes one want to grab an automatic rifle and shoot him.

His latest movie 'Pixels' is yet again a horrible experience, and this time it is more frustrating because the concept of the movie is quite amazing. So in contrast to Mr Sandler starring in an already terrible film, this time he has actually ruined a potentially great film. Directed by Chris Columbus but displaying none of the charm of the 'Harry Potter', 'Home Alone' movies or 'Mrs Doubtfire' that he directed, 'Pixels' is based on a short film where a bunch of your all time favourite video game characters come to life and invade America.

If you see the short film on YouTube you'll realize what a great feature length film this would have become. But by putting Adam Sandler and his gang of unfunny friends, Columbus is neither able to drive comedy nor exercise in visual effects that don't remind you how unfunny Sandler is. Yes, the barrage of the all time great video game characters coming to life and eating people is fun, but for a whole five minutes. The film doesn't explore what people on Earth can logically or amusingly do to fight this onslaught. The whole time we follow Sandler and his gang saying and doing stupid things, making it obvious that they're standing in green screen compartments. Compare this to 'The Lego Movie' where everything was done with love and care, in contrast to this movie where everything is loud and tedious.

There was a hint of talent shown in 2009's 'Funny People' where Sandler actually played himself, lampooning his idiotic cash grabby persona. If that movie had made money he would probably have done more of those, but since it didn't we'll just have to keep enduring sequels to 'Grown Ups' and wasted opportunities like 'Pixels'. If you somehow do end up watching this movie, you could always go back home and play some Contra on your old Nintendo console, if you still have it. I just wish the warriors from that game came to life and set off to prevent Sandler from making any more movies.