Pixel Perfect

I have a small question for all of you. In the scene in the rain outside the hospital, was Roscoe actually crying? Or were those raindrops on his cheeks? I've always been kind of curious to see if anybody knew, since I've only seen the movie once. I'd like to write a letter to Ricky Ullman and tell him how much I liked the movie, but I'd really like to know before I send it if he was really crying so I don't sound crazy. I really liked that scene, and though I don't really know why, it kind of (cheesily said) moved me. It was really sweet that Roscoe stood by Sam even though she hadn't been very nice to him. Isn't that what every girl wants? A loyal guy friend who really cares about you? Please answer!

This is just a fun movie to watch. Forget that Loretta could never exist (at least not for a LONG time) and just lose yourself in the story of a young couple realizing what they mean to each other and in overcoming obstacles in realizing their dreams. It's also about a girl (hologram, actually) coming to terms with her existence, sacrificing herself to save another and making the best she can with what life dealt her. I enjoyed it a lot!

This was a surprisingly good Disney Channel movie, despite the highly implausible storyline. For once, the characters actually have some depth and deal with serious relational issues. This is also the first Disney Channel movie in several years where the main characters are older than middle-school age (Roscoe actually drives!), which may be part of the reason for the unusual depth of the material.

Credit goes to Ricky Ullman for his excellent performance as Roscoe, a kid with serious fantasy/reality distinguishing problems. The character could have come across as either disturbingly weird or just plain silly, but Ullman approaches the role with a realness and sincerity that you just don't see a lot of in this sort of production.

The movie's depictions of being inside the Internet and the human brain are imaginative, inspired, and really rather thought-provoking. The visual-effects experience of director Mark Dippe really comes through very well in this.

The songs throughout the movie are fun and frothy, but don't be fooled -- there's a serious, emotional, raw undercurrent to the entire film that really sets it apart from most Disney Channel fare. A very good movie indeed.

Pixel Perfect finds genius science kid creating something that was in the Star Trek - Next Generation future. Ricky Ullman was no doubt channeling his Phil Of The Future character for this endeavor.

The science genes come from his father Brett Cullen who is working on holograph technology. Ricky's already created a holograph cat which disappears once it leaves the confines of the holograph projection space and goes into the great outdoors.

Ricky's girlfriend Leah Pipes leads an all girl rock band and she writes the band material. But she doesn't have that charisma in putting over the vocals. But our science genius Ullman solves the problem by creating a holographic Britney Spears/Jessica Simpson etc. type lead singer in the nonperson of Spencer Redford.

Spencer's character is best compared to the doctor on Star Trek Voyager which is at least 500 years in the future. As you remember Robert Picardo was constantly challenging the limits put on him as a holograph projections. As Spencer develops a self awareness and Leah develops jealousy you can see what problems are created especially after the band becomes a hit.

Pixel Perfect though absolutely technologically impossible now does ask some interesting questions on the very meaning of life and creativity. I wish it had not been done by the Disney Studio and had been aimed at a higher audience than what they draw. The Magic Kingdom just isn't equipped for these kind of issues.

This movie, to say the least, was one of the best I've seen the Disney channel make in a long time. It's a relief after all the "never-before-seen" episodes of That's So Raven and Lizzie McGuire we've all had to watch over and over. It's refreshing to see someone new. I'll admit, the flips Loretta did when she sang were very fake looking, but the whole story line was well communicated to the viewers. The makers of the film managed to get actors and actresses who weren't over-exposed, but still did quality work. Ricky Ullman did a spectacular job playing the scientific but cute and lovable Roscoe, and Leah Pipes displayed acting ability beyond anything I've ever seen from Disney Channel before. The emotion her character showed really did a lot for the movie. Overall grade: A