Ready Player One

Director Steven Spielberg brings Ernest Cline's hit sci-fi novel to vibrant life, telling the tale of a young gamer (Tye Sheridan) who enters a virtual reality game in order to solve a life-changing puzzle left by its deceased creator (Mark Rylance). Over of the course of two hours and twenty minutes, Spielberg sends you on a wild ride of car chases, epic battles and countless cultural references. Scratch beneath the surface, however, and the story struggles to give depth to the characters in this Willy Wonka-style adventure. While it may not be terribly involving, it is a lot of fun, thanks to a charming cast and breathtaking sequences involving the Back to the Future Delorean and Kubrick's The Shining. Tye Sheridan has wonderful chemistry with Olivia Cooke (playing fellow adventurer Art3mis), while Ben Mendelsohn is having the time of his life as the dastardly corporate baddie. Ready Player One may not be Spielberg's best work, but it is an enjoyable tribute to the type of blockbuster that he helped create.