Random Movie: Ready Player One (2018)

Going in to see Ready Player One, I didn’t have any expectations. For one, I haven’t read the book – no, you can’t have my gamer card. Second, the idea that a movie can be carried solely by its numerous pop culture references is absurd to me; recent films that have followed this formula are proof of such, like the somewhat amusing yet ultimately shallow Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle. Thankfully, Steven Spielberg’s nostalgia parade is more than the sum of its parts!



Kenneth Seward Jr. is the Editor-in-Chief of United Front Gaming and a freelance writer for IGN. You can find him on Twitter @KennyUFG.

Ready Player One takes place in the year 2045 where, thanks to war, climate change and other global ills, the majority of the Earth’s population has become impoverished. This is especially true of our teenage protagonist, Wade Watts (Tye Sheridan). Not only is he forced to live with his aunt and her jerk of a boyfriend after the death of his parents, he also seems to be exceptionally poor; he sleeps on top of a washer and dryer in a slum made up of stacked houses. Like everyone else on the planet, Wade tries to escape this dystopian future by fleeing to the OASIS, a virtual world created by his idol, the late James Halliday (Mark Rylance).

The OASIS is fragmented place, providing more than just one sole landscape to traverse. There are different hubs or locations that offer avenues for work, education and entertainment. All of it is treated like a giant game though – visitors assume an avatar and screen name before engaging in any given activity, much of a person’s worth is tied into the items that they have either purchased (using real and/or virtual currency) or won in some contest, and player death occurs once someone’s health reaches zero. Not physical death, like in the Matrix, though there are real world consequences. Like say someone using all of their rent money trying to obtain and sell a rare item, but failing to do so. What pushes things to the next level (heh) is the inclusion of a special game called Anorak’s Quest. Created as a means of finding a successor before he died, Halliday developed a series of challenges that centered on the collection of three keys. Each one is to be used to unlock a clue to the next, with the final one granting the winner complete control of the OASIS as its sole proprietor.

The premise is quite obviously lifted from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. That’s not necessarily a criticism; though the story starts in a familiar place, the overall plot is unique enough to stave off dismissive attitudes. Wade, who’s just as poor in the OASIS as he is in the real world, doesn’t have much more than a DeLorean and a few cosmetic items to play around with. He’s also a genuinely good person who goes out of his way to help others. So of course, he’s the “Charlie” we’re expected to root for. That said, this isn’t a solo act. While initially a loner, Wade eventually befriends multiple characters who not only help to punch up the drama but also provide much of the film’s humor. The stand outs are Wade’s long-time friend Aech and the infamous Art3mis (played by Lena Waithe and Olivia Cooke, respectively).

Smart, strong-willed, deadly with a rifle – there’s a lot to love about Art3mis’ character. What’s great is that she isn’t set aside only to be a damsel in distress or a tool to motivate our hero. No, Art3mis plays a significant role as she lends her strengths to the group, allowing them to further their quest. The same can be said about the modder/engineer Aech, who can seemingly fix or build anything he wants. Ever protective of Wade, he comically doles out advice in a manner that borders on stereotypical; he warns Wade about trusting pretty woman online who in reality, could be fat men named Chuck.

Charming characters are one part of this movie’s appeal. The others come by way of action packed scenes and the liberal use of nostalgic elements. Shootouts are more exciting when each participant is “clothed” as heroes and villains from popular movies and video games. An over-the-top race is elevated to insane levels thanks to the inclusion of living obstacles like King Kong. It’s almost too much at first. But as things progress, we start to see how everything starts to gel together; because deciphering the clues via the Easter Eggs/hidden messages that Halliday left behind prove to be rather tricky, our heroes’ vast knowledge of everything pop culture is put to the test. It was one thing to be enamored by seeing Chun-Li and Leonardo fight side by side. It was another to witness them being used within the confines of the story. There’s also a segment devoted to The Shining that’s worth the price of admission alone.

My only real gripe with Ready Player One was the lack of exposition concerning the outside world and the film’s antagonists. The IOI (Innovative Online Industries) is the manufacturer of the equipment used to access the OASIS. Their monopoly in this field was shaken after Halliday’s announcement as there is no guarantee that the winner of the contest would agree to work with them in the future. In hopes of taking full control over the OASIS, the company’s CEO Nolan Sorrento (Ben Mendelsohn) deploys an army of players to win each challenge. As things progress and their stock declines, Sorrento takes desperate measures to ensure victory.

The idea of a company doing shady things to amass more wealth isn’t a foreign concept. The thing is though, the film doesn’t leave it at that. There are points in the story that allude to IOI’s influence in the physical world linking them to disturbing practices like forced labor and such. And while I can assume that there are laws that allow them to impose their will on others, I don’t understand the disdain people have for this company as opposed to any other conglomerate of this time. Even when one of the main characters explains why they feel they way they do about IOI, it only brings up more questions. Mainly, in what ways does the OASIS connect to the real world (beyond the ability to make money selling virtual items) and how can those connections be manipulated by this powerful company? There just doesn’t seem to be enough information to warrant the “evil” moniker…at least not until Sorrento crosses a certain line.

Despite the underdeveloped exposition, my enjoyment of the film was not derailed. I loved the action, relished the pop references, and laughed at the comedic happenings. The actors and actresses are not lacking in any way and the CGI is impressive. The overall message, while obvious, is a bit diluted given how little we’re shown of the outside world though. That said, even if most of the gags go over your head, Ready Player One should still provide a good time at the movies!

Editor’s Note: Thank you, Kenny, for the awesome review.