This film was suggested to me on Netflix after I had finished watching the 80’s video game documentary ‘High Score’. The documentary I enjoyed, this film not so much. It was OK for what it was, but ultimately it was an unsatisfying piece of family schmaltz.
Fred Savage gets an over the titles credit as he was at the height of his ‘Wonder Years’ fame when the film came out. He obviously squeezed this into his schedule as he has the same haircut and you are half expecting to get that voice-over to offer you some background.
Savage has a dysfunctional family with Christian Slater as his brother and Beau Bridges as his casserole burning Dad. He also has a brother Jimmy who is a bit different - he's probably meant to be autistic but nothing concrete is ever said. Jimmy lives with his Mum and step dad and does’t say much.
One day Jimmy runs away from home and is soon joined by Savage who can't be outwith the limelight. In ‘Rain man’ style they learn that Jimmy is great at video games and soon they start to hustle all the grown men who seem to be hanging around video game arcades. They also meet up with tom boy Wendy and the three decide to head to California where there is a $50k, winner takes all, video game tournament.
Mild peril is added in the shape of Lucas an ass hole rival game player, and a suspect bounty hunter who seems a bit too keen to be running down kids for it to be comfortable. Added to the mix are Bridges and Slater who are also in pursuit of the errant trio.
After an hour or so they arrive at the tournament - can they win the cash? and what is in Jimmy’s case that he holds so dearly? Can this family come together via the medium of Super Mario Brothers?
You have to look at this film in the manner it was intended and by that metric it is OK. By any other it is a lame piece of family drama with no peril or surprises.
The film has the feeling of a Disney offering and apart from a rather suspect conversation about a young girl’s breasts there is nothing here to worry even a Ned Flanders type censor. There are bullies and shady characters but these are all easily beaten by our savvy kids and at no point did you feel they were in any danger.
There was no doubt that they were getting to the video game contest which made the first hour of getting there rather pointless. Bridges and Slater’s arc was particularly weak with the only development being that Bridges started to like video games.
Slater made this in the same year as ‘Heathers’ and you can only assume he read the pay cheque before the script.
The big video game showdown was a letdown with the game somewhat confusing, with our man winning despite losing more men than Kitchener. The final resolution about a lost twin seemed taped on and offered nothing in the way of salvation or justification for 100 minutes of running around playing Nintendo.
You may get a few retro thrills from this, but if that’s your quest I’d stick to ‘High Score’ if I were you.
THE Tag Line : Game Over man 55%
No comments:
Post a Comment