Film: Ready Player One

GENRE: Sci-Fi Adventure

RATING: PG-13 for language and violence
RUNTIME: 2 hours and 20 minutes

STARRING: Tye Sheridan (X-Men: Apocalypse, Mud, Tree of Life)

Olivia Cooke (Bates Motel), Ben Mendelsohn (Rogue One, Bloodline)

DIRECTOR: Steven Spielberg (Jaws, Minority Report, E.T., The BFG)

WRITERS: Zak Penn (X-Men: Last Stand) & Ernest Cline (Fan Boys)

PLOT: It’s a race between avatars as they try to find a hidden Easter Egg in a virtual reality world.

FULL DISCLOSURE: Was looking forward to nostalgia.

STORY STUFF: I haven’t read the book but apparently it is vastly different: the main idea is the same but that may be it. Spielberg engages his audience with some slick action and set pieces. The last quarter of the movie seems to get away from him though. The ending battle looks clunky and the part with the lone gunman was ridiculous. It kind of limped to the finish line, which is too bad because it started really well.  

ACTING STUFF: The chemistry between Sheridan and Cooke is sweet, even if they are avatars for most of the time. Spielberg always does well directing young actors. Mark Rylance (Bridge of Spies, Dunkirk) and Simon Pegg (Shaun of the Dead) are almost unrecognizable with their American accents as the creators of the OASIS. Unfortunately, Mendelsohn isn’t menacing enough for my liking.

ARTISTIC STUFF: The special effects are outstanding with amazing CG and camera work. Of course, the big draw is the 80’s nostalgia (also dips heavily into 70’s and some 90’s). Great callouts to Robert Zemekis and John Hughes. Absolutely loved the major nostalgia pieces from The Shining and The Iron Giant. Fun stuff.

VERDICT: Three and a half stars out of five

SEE IT IF: You like video games, Easter eggs and Iron Giant

UPCOMING REVIEWS: Isle of Dogs