PIXELS (12A)

WHO’S IN IT?

Adam Sandler (Happy Gilmore), Kevin James (Paul Blart: Mall Cop), Josh Gad (Frozen), Peter Dinklage (Game of Thrones), Michelle Monaghan (Mission: Impossible III), Brian Cox (Rise of the Planet of the Apes), Ashley Benson (Spring Breakers), Jane Krakowski (30 Rock), Denis Akiyama (The Pacifier), Sean Bean (Jupiter Ascending), Nick Swardson (Jack and Jill)

WHO’S BEHIND THE CAMERA?

Chris Columbus (Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone), director, producer; Tim Herlihy (Bedtime Stories) and Timothy Dowling (Just Go With It), writers; Michael Barnathan (Night at the Museum), Allen Covert (That’s My Boy), Mark Radcliffe (Christmas with the Kranks) and Adam Sandler (Grown Ups), producers; Henry Jackman (Wreck-It Ralph), composer; Amir Mokri (Man of Steel), cinematographer; Peck Prior (The Master of Disguise) and Hughes Winborne (Guardians of the Galaxy), editors

WHAT’S IT ABOUT?

In 1982, NASA sends into space a probe with the hopes of contacting extraterrestrial life. Inside is a time capsule that includes several examples of Earth life and culture, including classic arcade games like Pac-Man, Donkey Kong, Space Invaders and others. The probe does eventually reach an alien life force, but unfortunately it misinterprets the images as a declaration of war and begin an assault on Earth using the video game characters’ likeness to destroy it piece by piece. Pressed for victory, US President Will Cooper (James) calls upon his childhood friend Sam Brenner (Sandler), once a vivid gamer that is now a home theatre installer, and two other retro gamers including conspiracy theorist Ludlow Lamonsoff (Gad) and Sam’s former nemesis Eddie Plant (Dinklage), to help take down the alien threat using technology similar to the games themselves…

IN ONE SENTENCE, WHY SHOULD YOU BE EXCITED?

Pixels has an awesome set-up – using retro 80s video games in an action-disaster movie context – and we are certainly hoping that it lives up to its hype, especially with the derided presence of Adam Sandler which is understandably a cause for concern.

WHEN’S IT OUT?

WEDNESDAY 12TH AUGUST 2015

Search from over ten years of movies here:

Other recent reviews:

Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (2024, dir. Adam Wingard)

Godzilla and Kong team up to take on a threat to their world…

Mothers’ Instinct (2024, dir. Benoît Delhomme)

In 60s suburbia, a pair of mothers find their friendship pushed to the brink…

Silver Haze (2023, dir. Sacha Polak)

A nurse embarks on a rocky relationship with her patient…

The Sweet East (2023, dir. Sean Price Williams)

A young teen goes on a bizarre odyssey after separating from her school trip…

Shirley (2024, dir. John Ridley)

In 1972, trailblazing Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm runs for President…

Road House (2024, dir. Doug Liman)

A former UFC fighter takes a new job as a bouncer at a Florida roadhouse…

Late Night with the Devil (2024, dirs. Cameron & Colin Cairnes)

A Halloween-themed episode of a late-night talk show goes devilishly wrong…

Baltimore (2024, dirs. Joe Lawlor and Christine Molloy)

A wealthy heiress turned IRA activist leads a daring art heist…

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (2024, dir. Gil Kenan)

A team of old and new Ghostbusters combat an icy new supernatural threat…

Brightwood (2023, dir. Dane Elcar)

A couple find themselves trapped in a time warp during a morning jog…