Review of Ready Player One (2018) by Ronnel A — 06 Apr 2018

Steven Spielberg's imagination explodes across the screen in this adaptation of author Ernst Cline's bestselling novel of the same name. This sci-fi action adventure could have easily hinged too heavily on the premise of utilizing pop culture references in its narrative.

But -- make no mistake -- it's the characters, world, and story that take precedence over the overbearing fan-service that never was. This is a rich, multi-layered, and surprisingly timely film about the wonders of cinema and gaming, and a celebration of the communal joy that can ensue in their consumption.

The visuals are captivating. The performances are winsome. And the overall feel is just charming enough for me to overlook some of the narrative flaws. Fantastic work.