'Ready Player One' like the book that inspired it (for better or worse)

Steven Spielberg's adaptation of the best-seller nerdgasm novel Ready Player One (itself an homage to Spielberg's work) may change some plot points, but it perfectly captures the indulgent and giddy spirit of the book. The result is overwhemingly self-referential at times, but also incredibly fun. The movie is also a bit of a mixed bag.

There are times where it is sublime -- one extended sequence set within a classic horror film (which I won't spoil) is a stone cold classic, and hints at a more superior film that this could have been. Other sequences suffer from a few too many camera flourishes, a muddy color palette (a hallmark of Spielberg's favorite cinematographer Janusz Kaminski), and the same kind of sentimentality that the director's work is often criticized for.

But, I think some of the backlash this film is already getting misses the point. It's not trying to be smart or say something profound about the times we live in or the gaming culture it portrays in painstaking detail. It's meant to be a trifle, a totally lighthearted romp in the spirit of 80s hits like Back to the Future or Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure.

Which is fine. And when the movie leans into its sense of humor and candy store of pop culture references (Chucky and Robocop both have brief cameos, among other fan favorites), the movie is a blast. This is a film that fairly flawlessly blends a narrative taking place in a CGI world of avatars (engaged in a Willy Wonka like quest to inherit a socially awkward trillionaire's fortune) and a human-centered story set in the real world, starring mostly unknowns and up-and-coming actors.

If any filmmaker was going to pull off this kind of high-stakes storytelling, it's Spielberg. This is his most mainstream genre movie in years and although it's dripping in nostalgia, like a lot of its work, the target audience is clearly younger than the filmgoers who grew up on his blockbusters ET and Jurassic Park.

Still, the most underrated tool in Spielberg's toolbox is missing from this movie -- his ability to move us emotionally. The film's leads are attractive and likable -- Tye Sheridan and Olivia Cooke have warm open faces and are lovably earnest -- but neither gets enough screen time to really invest us in their characters (the audience must simply accept the premise that they're the good guys). A sneering Ben Mendelsohn is the bad guy, and has a real presence in an otherwise underwritten role.

So, when the film does try to reach for more depth and tug on our heartstrings, it suffers, The last act of the film drags a bit and the movie's final mission statement feels forced and inauthentic.

This was an issue I had with the book too. I really enjoyed reading it, until I thought deeply about it. It's chucking a lot of stuff we love at us without any substance. But what great stuff! This movie does demonstrate that Spielberg, now in his 70s, still knows his way around an action set piece, and gives me some hope that the long-delayed Indy 5 may restore that franchise to its former glory.

I'm glad Ready Player One appears to be a hit. It's a film bursting with creative energy, eye popping visuals, and a sweet-natured lack of cynicism that has permeated far too many big budget movies  now. But I do think it might not hold up well under scrutiny and will not likely be ranked as one of its director's signature works.