Ready Player One Review: 7 Ups And 3 Downs

2. The Real World Stuff Isn't All That Interesting

The movie spends so much time in the OASIS, a fabulous virtual world where the impossible can happen, that it's perhaps not too surprising it isn't as strong when it unplugs to spend more time in the real world, which in this case is Ohio, 2045.

By its very design and purpose it isn't as interesting as the OASIS, which is why everyone spends as much time as possible in there, but that shouldn't really translate over to the plot and characters of the movie.

This is where the issues with development are more prominent, because there's less cool stuff for them to do outside their avatars, and thus less to cover up the lack of depth, and it's where we get most of the issues with pacing too. One big moment, in particular, could've been used for real pathos but is instead glossed over, as are most notions and questions about the consequences of the futuristic world. The citizens have decided the real world isn't worth bothering with, and on a few occasions, you're left wishing the film had come to the same conclusion.