Movie Scum

One of the key elements of a good mystery is immersion. It trumps a decent plot and interesting characters because the thrills are derived from a seemingly shared experience. As long as the audience feels like they’re solving a problem alongside the cast, they’ll go along with most anything. This does not include lackluster acting and an overly formulaic approach to storytelling…

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!