Cubs vs. Pirates; ‘Pixels’ and ‘Mr. Holmes’ on Local Screens (Wed., 8/5/15)

1) Tonight’s the final game of a three-game series as the Chicago Cubs try to eke out a victory against our Pittsburgh Pirates. Let’s keep playing some good defensive baseball. 7:05 p.m. PNC Park, 115 Federal St., North Shore.

2) Pixels — According to the Pixels plot, video feeds of arcade games (Pac-Man, Galaga, Centipede, etc.) were beamed into outer space back in the 1980’s. Unfortunately the aliens who lived up there thought they were a declaration of war, and so adopting the game characters as their battle armor, they come to earth to destroy humanity. Four former childhood friends—and arcade champions—resurrect their skills to kill the invaders. With this movie, millions of middle-aged men will see their wasted teenage years validated. “No really Mom, I have to play because if I don’t someday the world might collapse. Now leave me alone!”  The friends are played by Adam Sandler, Peter Dinklage, Josh Gad, and Kevin James (who is actually the President of the United States in the movie.) Slightly surprisingly, Chris Columbus directs; although if you can buy into James playing a man who is both the U.S. president and married to Jane Krakowski, then there’s really nothing left to surprise you. Check Fandango for screens and times. (TH)

3) Mr. Holmes — Popping up in the middle of summer, without a hero in spandex or a building exploding in the third act, Mr. Holmes is a cinematic oddity. It’s based on a 2005 novel written by Mitch Cullin. In it we find a 93-year-old Sherlock Holmes living in rural England and unhappy with the way Watson has chronicled their last case. At his advanced age, however, he only remembers snippets: a young lady, an angry husband, possibly a dead child. He needs to enlist the aid of his housekeeper and her son to solve this final mystery. The film reunites director Bill Condon and Sir Ian McKellen, the duo who last worked together on the 1998 James Whale biopic Gods and Monsters. Laura Linney and Roger Allam show up in what is certainly the most unlikeliest of summer films. Check Fandango for screens and times. (TH)

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