MY REVIEW:

After watching ‘Game of Your Life’, I was pretty sure what I wanted to say about the movie. Then I read the provided synopsis and found that it pretty much covered everything. From it’s title, I expected it to be another sports movie and was somewhat surprised to find it involved an entirely different kind of game. This movie is definitely one that the entire family can enjoy together and those who enjoy video games should find it particularly interesting.

Interaction between the characters was good. Zach and Sara were more the straight men while Phillip and Donald added comic relief. Bentton was the perfect  baddie and professor Abbie’s compassion added the perfect balance. I liked the fact that the game developed by Zach’s team dealt with choices which paralleled the theme of the movie. ‘Game of Your Life’ illustrated the importance of commitment, the true meaning of family, and the importance of making the right choices. Watching this movie as a family could open up some interesting conversations afterwards. I suggest that you make time for it when it airs on NBC Friday, December 2nd at 8:oo p.m. eastern/7:00 p.m. central time.

I viewed this movie online courtesy of Fly Propeller in exchange for my review.



SYNOPSIS:

When industrious high school gamer Zach Taylor lands a prized scholarship to the prestigious Digital Institute of Game Design (DIGD), his future breaks wide open. The opportunity to study under gaming legend Marcus Bentton and alongside the country’s most creative minds will certainly propel him into a successful career as a video game designer. That is, if he can pass the infamous freshman project that eliminates more than half of the class within the first three months.

Paired with brilliant yet socially awkward teammates Phillip and Donald, the trio persuades Sara Ramirez – a determined and striking team leader with whom Zach has a history (and possibly a future) – to join their team. Working off-campus in the teched-out Lincoln Alley loft, the four set out to involve the entire campus in a quirky new social interactive game. But as the group becomes entrenched in the project, Zach learns that his father Billy, a widower, is facing growing financial woes at home. To help out, Zach accepts an opportunity to work directly with Marcus Bentton on a secretive side project that seems too good to be true. The effort requires nearly all of Zach’s time and energy, which he should be devoting to the project. Struggling to keep it together, Zach is torn between his responsibility to his team, his admiration for Bentton and a chance to help his father.

Everything comes to a breaking point when Zach’s team threatens to remove him from the group and the deceptive truth behind Bentton’s project comes to light. With the guidance of Professor Abbie Lambert, Zach must make a decision that not only affects his future, but the lives and livelihoods of the people around him as well. It’s a revealing story that recognizes the magnitude behind the choices we make and the importance loyalty plays in making good decisions.