ABOUT THIS EPISODE
Welcome back to Hollywood Hangout, hosted by Boxman!
We're kicking off our Video Game Movie Month with a deep dive into the 2015 action-comedy Pixels, directed by Chris Columbus.
● The Star-Studded Cast: We talk through Adam Sandler taking the lead as Sam Brenner, Kevin James stepping into the Oval Office as President Will Cooper, Michelle Monaghan as Violet van Patten, Peter Dinklage bringing high energy as Eddie "The Fireblaster" Plant, and Josh Gad powering through as Ludlow Lamonsoff.
● The Breakdown: A look at how 1980s arcade classics—PAC-MAN, Donkey Kong, Space Invaders, Galaga, and Centipede—invade Earth after alien forces misinterpret a space time-capsule transmission as a declaration of war.
● IMDb Trivia & Behind-the-Scenes Secrets:
○ Pac-Man's Creator: Toru Iwatani, creator of the original PAC-MAN arcade game, makes an actual cameo in the film as a repairman, while actor Denis Akiyama portrays him during the main story sequence.
○ Dinklage’s Inspiration: Peter Dinklage’s character, Eddie Plant, was heavily inspired by real-life video game champions, particularly Billy Mitchell from the King of Kong documentary.
○ Original Short Film: The feature film is based on Patrick Jean's viral 2010 French animated short film of the same name.
Tune in to catch the full review and see where Pixels ranks as we launch into a full month of video game adaptations!
Check it out every Friday at 9:30 PM Eastern. Live on YouTube.
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@hollywoodhangoutpodcast
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1ymX0HRkWB45ja11B2I6fm
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/hollywood-hangout/id1132940251
