Pixels is a 2015 American 3D science fiction action comedy film based on the Internet short film of the same name created by Patrick Jean. It was a last theatrically film produced by Happy Madison Productions, where Sandler had a first look deal with Netflix to create a new film. The film is directed by Chris Columbus and was released on July 24, 2015 by Columbia Pictures.
Plot[]
At a video game arcade in 1982 with his friend Will Cooper, 13-year-old Sam Brenner discovers he can master the games by spotting patterns. He seemingly loses a championship game of Donkey Kong to obnoxious Eddie "the Fireblaster" Plant. Videocassette footage of the event is included in a time capsule launched into space. In the present day, Brenner is an installer of home-theater systems while Cooper is the hated President of the United States. In Guam, the Andersen Air Force Base is besieged by an extraterrestrial force attacking in the form of Galaga and a soldier is abducted.
Brenner works at the home of divorced U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel Violet van Patten, and the two are separately summoned to the White House. Upon seeing the video footage and meeting with Ludlow "the Wonder Kid" Lamonsoff, Brenner determines the aliens have misinterpreted the videocassette images as a declaration of war, and are attacking with technology based on the video games featured at the championship. The aliens interrupt a television broadcast using footage from the cassette, challenging Earth to a battle where if the aliens win three rounds, they will conquer the planet. Brenner and Cooper are unable to stop one of the attacks as the Taj Mahal is damaged by the aliens in the form of Arkanoid and a bystander is abducted.
Brenner and Ludlow train Navy SEALs to play the games. Violet develops rayguns that are effective against the aliens. In London, the aliens attack Hyde Park in the form of Centipede. Brenner and Ludlow step in and shoot them down. The aliens send congratulations and a "trophy" in the form of the Duck Hunt dog.
Ludlow and Cooper retrieve Eddie from a prison sentence for fraud. In New York City, the team must participate as the ghosts against Pac-Man. Toru Iwatani, the creator of Pac-Man, tries to reason with Pac-Man peacefully but gets his hand bitten off. Brenner, Ludlow, and Eddie overcome the task using modified Mini Cooper cars, but Violet notices Eddie moved at supersonic speeds around the board. They win Q*Bert as a trophy. During a celebratory party, however, the aliens declare the challenge for the planet has been forfeited because someone cheated. Violet's son Matty discovers Eddie used a speed cheat during the battle against Pac-Man. Eddie flees while Matty is abducted by the aliens.
The aliens launch a massive attack in Washington, D.C. using an army of characters and enemies from the games. Cooper joins the team, while Ludlow stays to fight. An alien takes the form of "Lady Lisa", a character on whom Ludlow had a crush since childhood. Ludlow persuades Lisa to choose love and side with the humans as Eddie, wishing to make amends, returns to fight. Brenner, Violet, and Cooper are summoned to the aliens' mothership where they face their leader, who takes the form of Donkey Kong, on the starting level with the aliens' captives at the top level. As the group dodges barrels and fireballs, Brenner is losing hope until Matty reveals Eddie's cheating to him, restoring his self-confidence and allowing him to defeat Donkey Kong. This causes the aliens' forces, including Lisa, to be eliminated.
The team is hailed as heroes and a peace agreement is reached with the aliens. Eddie apologizes to Brenner for cheating, and although Ludlow is saddened that Lisa is gone, Q*Bert transforms its likeness to Lady Lisa. Brenner and Violet become a couple while Eddie gets to meet Serena Williams and Martha Stewart. The aliens restore Iwatani's hand before their departure. A year later, Lady Lisa and Ludlow marry and have Q*Bert-like children.
Cast[]
- Adam Sandler as Sam Brenner
- Kevin James as Will Cooper
- Josh Gad as Ludlow Lamonsoff
- Peter Dinklage as Eddie Plant
- Michelle Monaghan as Violet van Patten
- Matt Lintz as Matty
- Brian Cox as Admiral Porter
- Ashley Benson as Lady Lisa
- Jane Krakowski as Carolyn Cooper
- Denis Akiyama as Toru Iwatani
- Sean Bean as Corporal Hill
- Affion Crockett as Sergeant Dylan Cohan
- Dan Aykroyd as 1982 Championship MC
- Lainie Kazan as Mickey Lamonsoff
- Serena Williams and Martha Stewart as themselves
Videos[]
