IN 1982, schoolboy Brenner (Adam Sandler) was runner-up to Eddie (Peter Dinklage) in the world Pac Man championships.
Today, a whole generation plays far more complex games on their mobile phones. Some call this progress.
Leap forward to now time. Brenner installs TV systems. Today he is working in the apartment occupied by divorcee Violet (Michelle Monaghan). There’s no way she’s going to show interest in a mere tradesman.
The US military base on Guam detects an unidentified threat coming from outer space. Military panjandrums led by Admiral Porter prepare to shoot it down. At school, President Cooper (Kevin James) and Brenner were buddies. When the invader is identified as a race of Pac Men created by computer-game emissions three decades ago, who’s Cooper going to call? Why, his old buddy and Pac Man wizard Brenner and their mutual pal Ludlow (Josh Gad).
And when those two walk into the White House Situation Room, whom should they see but Violet. Wearing a colonel’s badges on her jacket.
The invading Pac Men are giant orange spheres that can be defeated only by obeying the rules of the computer game. Violet realises that beneath his humble exterior, Brenner conceals a nice-guy patriot with a good brain.
“Pixels” follows a predictable formula with gentle comedy values satirising American political, social, intellectual and military institutions. Who could ask for more?
At Hoyts, Capitol 6, Limelight
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