A Fun Visual Treat

Rating: 7/10 (31 March 2018)

I went into 'Ready Player One' knowing nothing about it. I haven't read the book it's based on and the only thing I knew about the story was what the trailer showed. In a way, I think, that was advantageous. The entire experience felt fresh and unexpected. The trailer piqued my interest and I was curious to see Steven Spielberg's vision come alive on the big screen. I wasn't disappointed!
The story is set in a dystopian Columbus, Ohio in the year 2045 where cities look like slums and people rely on a virtual reality world, the OASIS, to escape their everyday lives. On his deathbed James Halliday, the slightly mad and brilliant creator of the OASIS, unveils a contest within the game that will give the winner control of the OASIS and his entire fortune. Naturally, lives and time are wasted (I mean spent) in this pursuit. Teenager Wade Watts is one such hopeful player who spends all of his time learning everything he can about Halliday's life in order to solve the mysterious puzzle. I haven't said much more than what the previews showed and I'll stop here since the movie is worth experiencing for yourself.
The movie is a slam-dunk visually- a grand treat for the senses. You're immersed in the OASIS along with the players and feel a strange loss in their 'real world.' It took me a few minutes to get into the narrative but once it clicked I enjoyed the journey thoroughly. There are endless references to other classic movies and pop culture. It's a never-ending joyride for fans of sci-fi and video games. I'm sure I missed hidden gems that I heard some audience members chuckle at...but that's all part of the cheekiness.
The movie isn't really about performances but the actors manage to play their roles just fine. Tye Sheridan, Olivia Cooke, Ben Mendelsohn, and Lena Waithe bring enough charm to their characters to be relevant. They seem to be having a good time which works well for this film. The plot itself isn't unexpected and the film is a tad too long but its treatment is the real treat here. You can predict the ending but it's a ton of fun along the way.
Steven Spielberg has managed to bring together animation, childhood dreams, and virtual reality to create a movie for the fans that satisfies their wildest fantasies. A man of many talents, he isn't short of ideas or talent at the age of 71. Honestly I don't know how this movie will rank in Mr. Spielberg's career graph. It's not my favorite but it's a dream come true for many. It's an easy movie to lose yourself in for a couple of hours so mission accomplished.