Nostalgic romp through the 80s set in the future

Rating: 8/10 (22 January 2019)

I rather enjoyed this film. I have watched it several times on Sky since I first watched it a few weeks ago. Totally in love with the Parzival Avatar. Reminds me a little of Chiana from Farscape.
It's a safe but fun, colourful caper through a version of cyberspace stuck mostly in the 80s. Loads of cultural references and cameos of characters and their machines. Like Star War simultaneously set in the future and past.
Aimed at over 12s as per the rating I think boys young and old will enjoy it. Perhaps a tad too traditional and gamey for broad appeal beyond those who were teenagers in the 80s or had parents who introduced them to 70s and 80s Americana. For me personally, some of the cultural references were pretty dated. The films referenced were old fashioned when I came across them in the 90s. Nearly 25 years on it seems odd that a teenager of the 2040s would have advanced knowledge of 1980s trivia. There's a scene where the villain trying to hoodwink Parzival by trying to be hip quoting Duran Duran. They were barely cool in 80s and the idea that 60 years later the best gamers in the world are into them is really implausible. It would be like my teenage self being into Noel Coward operettas of the 30s.
That being said, as I was I a child of the 80s the references were appreciated, even Duran Duran. I also loved that they chose Birmingham to film some of the real world scened to show a post apocalyptic America. I worked in that area years ago and pretty sure walked down those streets a couple months back. Quite apt considering that those streets are amongst the last of the industrial revolution era building's in the city. But I digress. Also it is a nice touch that Duran Duran formed in Birmingham.
I think some of the real world graphics in the opening sequence were a bit clunky. They really should just used have a real world trailer park in California and saved the expense. The Oasis world CGI though was pretty stunning in parts. But you do end up easter egg hunting yourself concentrating in the myriad of characters within the Oasis and not on the plot or cast.
I think there is enough in the film to engage people long enough, if not visit the world of the Oasis time and time again, then at least once. I fear it won't be one of the films that will stand the test of time as people move further away from the 80s the less and less it will make sense. It is what it is. So just have fun with it.