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Pixels (2015), PG-13, ★

Run away from the Pac-Man!
This movie has the most creative and interesting premise with video game arcade characters attacking the city and the people. I mean, why not? That's not a bad idea. However, when something creative and inventive comes up in the conference room, everyone, including the top movie executives, will agree to it because all they could think about are dollar signs in their head. Money is essential and great to the SONY company, from which this year they have not a good year with their movies. Even though I predict they'll probably get a lot of earnings, the material inside the creative premise meshes into one great disappointment that I wish the PAC-MAN could eat up.

Sam Brenner (Adam Sandler) is a former arcade video game aficionado who works for a company that installs software. And, Will Cooper (Kevin James) is the President of the United States, who gets mocked constantly for not running the country properly and also is teased because he failed to read properly to a kindergarten class. In Guam, the military picks up a threatening signal, which are alien life forms based on the game of Galaga which easily takes out the soldiers.

After Brenner goes to a home do his job for a lady named Violet Van Patten (Michelle Monaghan), she follows him as he gets a call from Cooper to come to the White House as we find out that she is a Lieutenant Colonel. As Brenner heads into the Oval Office with Cooper, he shows him that the Galaga aliens are attacking. Brenner recruits Ludlow (Josh Gad) as Ludlow explains that the aliens are sending video game creatures to attack and using manipulated stock '80s footage of Ronald Reagan and Madonna. They show the video to Cooper and the next attack will be at India as they will attack the Taj Mahal.

After defeating the Centipede, the aliens send a message reminding that there will be another attack. Ludlow and Brenner decide to recruit another member to help them. Brenner, Cooper and Violent go to visit Eddie (Peter Dinklage) in prison because of fraud for adding charges to phone bills. In exchange, he wants an island, no pay in taxes and a meeting with Martha Stewart and Serena Williams and it's done. Now, the four members are the Arcade Video Game Ghostbusters.

Let's do this!
Why? Oh, why? Why did this movie sink this low with all the repetitive material of misogynistic humor, crudeness and unfunny material that all appeal to the department of Adam Sandler's company? His material does not make any sense at all for this movie that sort of assaults the ears with the humorless dialogue and the noise from the video game characters. Granted, the visual effects of these arcade video game characters are not bad but the filmmakers are too desperate to enjoy the visuals and get over the stock material and boring characters.

Adam Sandler looks tired that his material is so palpable that in the end, the movie will be incomparably lazy and he would not care because he would solely rely on the director to do the work. Kevin James is charming but does not generate buzz with his character. Josh Gad created one of the most lovable characters in Frozen but has created one of the most annoying characters in this movie. I could not standing him screaming and reciting high-pitched dialogue. Michelle Monaghan creates a strong female character but does not do anything much. Peter Dinklage, even though his character is not too interesting, has a few funny lines. Jane Krakowski and Sean Bean are just there to get a paycheck which is fine but I wished they had more to do.

Director Chris Columbus (Home Alone 1 & 2, the first two Harry Potter movies and Mrs. Doubtfire) has made some funny movies over his career but this movie is an unfortunate disappointment because he is also a visionary artist that can transform an idea into something quite great. But, I just wished that Adam Sandler did not contribute to it. Would it make much of a difference if Sandler or James was not in the movie? Think about it. Maybe we would have a really fun and entertaining parody of Ghostbusters. Children will probably enjoy the visuals and crude humor but somehow the appeal of arcade characters would convince adults to enjoy the 80s nostalgia. But, neither of them work to the both of the demographics' advantage. What a wasted opportunity. It's safe to say that there is, yet again, a reserved spot for Adam Sandler on my "Worst Movies" list coming in December.

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