Pixels parents guide

Pixels Parent Guide

"Pixels" offers a heroic conclusion for virtual vigilantes and aging joystick jockeys. Still, the extravaganza struggles in plot development and at being a family film.

Overall C+

It may be game over for human beings if a video game champion from the 1980 (Adam Sandler) can't defeat a group of aliens that have used the old characters as prototypes for weapons and are now attacking the Earth.

Release date July 24, 2015

Violence C+
Sexual Content C+
Profanity C
Substance Use C+

Why is Pixels rated PG-13? The MPAA rated Pixels PG-13 for some language and suggestive comments.

Run Time: 106 minutes

Official Movie Site

Parent Movie Review

Video games now span three generations and to celebrate Adam Sandler and Chris Columbus have teamed together to create a film that attempts to attract boomers, gen-xers and millennials all together in one big happy box office busting party.

In Pixels Brenner is a young guy (played by Anthony Ippolito) living in the video arcades of 1982 with his buddies Cooper (Jared Riley) and Ludlow (Jacob Shinder). Brenner is the master of Space Invaders, Centipede and many of the other popular diversions of his time. Gunning for the world championship gaming title, his hopes of being the best are dashed after he loses to the reigning victor, Eddie (Andrew Bambridge) in a decisive game of Donkey Kong. And thanks to a special promotion by NASA, his failure is recorded and sent into space as part of a time capsule of Earth’s culture.

Fast forward to the present day. Brenner (Adam Sandler) and Cooper (Kevin James) are best buddies even though the former is a nerd for hire—a guy who sets up your TV and sound system—and the latter is the current president of the USA. (Yes, this is a Sandler film, so Kevin James as president is well within the realm of possibility…) While on a routine installation call, Brenner meets homeowner Violet (Michelle Monaghan), a beautiful woman going through a divorce. There his still tattered confidence takes another hit after she rejects his advances based on his income level and general slovenliness.

Fortunately fate intervenes when aliens from another world invade Earth with creatures based on those 1980s video games. It seems the VHS tape of the arcade action shot out to the universe was misinterpreted as an act of war. Now Brenner, along with Ludlow (Josh Gad) and Eddie (Peter Dinklage), are given the ultimate joystick challenge by the president himself: Beat the aliens and save the world. Even better, our hero discovers Violet is a defense advisor in the federal government, and a victory will certainly score him big points with her.

Not surprisingly this script follows the usual Sandler template, although the creative game graphics may possibly make the movie the most expensive his company has ever produced. Playing the down-on-his-luck underdog, with an attractive woman by his side, we know without a doubt the outcome will result in a collection of cameo appearances (undoubtedly combed from Sandler’s impressive Rolodex), punctuated by copious product placements. Of course there are also the expected sexual innuendos and double entendre that are a staple of Sandler humor and these may create some confusion for parents. After all, here is a fun looking flick with colorful video game characters, which seems perfectly aimed at a young teen audience. So what’s up with the PG-13 rating?

While the off color remarks are fewer than what’s found in many other Sandler-funded films, they are still a blight on an otherwise creative and entertaining concept, as are scenes of characters drinking to excess. As well you’ll hear some scatological terms, along with mild and moderate profanities. In addition, Pixels is full of violence evoking the style of early video games, but it is highly fantastic with animated characters and humans disintegrating into colorful pixelated blocks.

Satisfying the dreams of every young boy and older male who love video games, Pixels offers a heroic conclusion for virtual vigilantes and aging joystick jockeys. Still, the extravaganza often struggles to stay on track—in both plot development and its intent to truly be a family film.

Directed by Chris Columbus. Starring Adam Sandler, Michelle Monaghan, Peter Dinklage . Running time: 106 minutes. Theatrical release July 24, 2015. Updated

Pixels
Rating & Content Info

Why is Pixels rated PG-13? Pixels is rated PG-13 by the MPAA for some language and suggestive comments.

Violence:
People engage in battles with an alien enemy throughout the film, and many of the non-human army is killed. There are pervasive depictions of weapons use, destruction of property and characters being digitized into pixels. Cruel insults and derogatory remarks are made. Certain stereotypical characters (such as nerds and video game players) are maligned. Characters are chased, crushed and eaten. A man threatens an intruder with a baseball bat. A character falls out of a moving vehicle and another has his hand chewed off (no blood shown). A short excerpt from a popular video game shows human characters beating, shooting and stabbing each other – some blood is shown. Characters are taken hostage. Cheating is portrayed.

Sexual Content:
Various female characters are shown in seductive poses and in revealing clothing. Male characters often make crude references, sexual jokes and suggestive comments. Crass sexual advances are depicted and sexual favors are mentioned. A character fears he will die a virgin. Infidelity and divorce are discussed. A man slaps the backsides of several male soldiers and makes some sexual remarks about one of them. A frightened character urinates.

Language:
Mild and moderate profanities are used, along with scatological slang and terms of deity. Mean-spirited name-calling and slurs are frequent.

Drugs and Alcohol:
A parent drinks in secret to dull her sense of grief. Other characters drink in social settings and pubs. Characters challenge each other to a drinking contest and brag about past alcohol consumption.

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Pixels Parents' Guide

Many parents have warned their children about the dangers of spending too much time playing video games. What kinds of future careers are depicted for the champion gamers in this movie? What happened to the kid who wasn’t very good at the sport? Is that a fair portrayal? How realistic is the idea that the skills acquired while playing will one day be transferable to a real world need?

From the Studio:
In Pixels, when intergalactic aliens misinterpret video-feeds of classic arcade games as a declaration of war against them, they attack the Earth, using the games as models for their various assaults. President Will Cooper (James) has to call on his childhood best friend, ‘80s video game champion Sam Brenner (Sandler), now a home theater installer, to lead a team of old-school arcaders (Dinklage and Gad) to defeat the aliens and save the planet. Monaghan plays the team’s unique weapons specialist. The action-comedy is directed by Chris Columbus from a story by Tim Herlihy and a screenplay by Tim Herlihy and Timothy Dowling, based on the short film of the same name by Patrick Jean. The film is produced by Adam Sandler, Chris Columbus, Mark Radcliffe, and Allen Covert. Executive Producers are Barry Bernardi, Michael Barnathan, Jack Giarraputo, Heather Parry, Tim Herlihy, Steve Koren, Patrick Jean, Benjamin Darras, Johnny Alves, Matias Boucard, Seth Gordon, and Ben Waisbren. (c) Sony

Home Video

The most recent home video release of Pixels movie is October 27, 2015. Here are some details…

Home Video Notes Pixels
Release Date: 27 October 2015
Pixels releases to home video (Blu-ray/Digital Copy or Blu-ray 3D/Blu-ray/Digital Copy) with the following supplements:
- Q*Bert - The adorable digital bit hopper comes to life in PIXELS!
- Dojo Quest - A look at the new classic arcade game that gave life to the unstoppable Lady Lisa.
- Game On Music Video by Waka Flocka Flame ft. Good Charlotte
Exclusive HD Content
- The Creator of the Machine - PAC-MAN creator Toru Iwatani was on-set and had a cameo, we hear from him about his experience and his take on PIXELS.
- The Space Invader - The winner of an arcade contest had a walk on role in the film.
- PAC-MAN - A detailed look at the PAC-MAN action sequence. From Mini Coopers and stunts to visual effects, see how PAC-MAN chomps his way into real life.
- Donkey Kong - See the cast perform stunts on a giant reconstruction of the classic platform game and watch as Donkey Kong goes from bits to BIG.
- Centipede - The giant insect attack was the creation of visual and special effect planning as well as the patience of countless performers.
- Galaga - This 80’s arcade favorite leads the alien invasion, take an inside look at the attack on Guam.

Related home video titles:

In Tron and the sequel Tron Legacy, humans use an arcade game to get inside and interact with the inner components of a computer. Game characters come to life at night and invade each other’s consoles in Wreck-it Ralph.

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