And TVC was right, it didn't completely withstand the onslaught of my adult sensibilities. Not completely. In fact I loved most of it. 90% of it was fantastic and fun and goofy and over the top and so fucking awesome death blossom. Thankfully this all came in the latter half of the film and I ended my viewing with a feeling of AWESOME.
What DIDNT jive with me was the whole HIGH SCORE scene where all the old people from the trailer park show up to cheer him on to beat the game, as well as his girlfriend. The movie was trying to indicate one of the following:
a.) People in trailer parks are pathetic and use even more pathetic 'events' to suppliment their lives.
b.) Old people care about videogames.
c.) Girlfriends care about videogames.
d.) Old people think people who are good at videogames are 'smart' and are 'going to go far'.
e.) A girlfriend will quickly forget a fight over real-life events because the screen the boyfriend is drooling at is flashing "HIGH SCORE".
f.) Consequently, getting a high score in an arcade game in a trailer park gets you moochas smoochas from your girlfriend as well as the admiration of the entire trailer park.
Then there's that whole follow-up scene that takes place later when his mom gives him the letter that says he doesnt get the loan, and that he has to go to 'city college' (wtf is that?) The scene sets up with him telling his mom in an 'arent I the coolest motherfucker around' kinda way that HE beat the high score at starfighter.
Her reaction is dismissive, and because of this, the scene is ultimately pretty depressing for the viewer. Why? Well its the idea that the writer/director felt that the legitimate BAD NEWS of not getting a loan is what kept her from flipping the fuck out over her son the trailer park janitor beating a crappy arcade game at the local convenience store.
That whole part of the movie was just really rough to watch.
