Genre: Action

Director: Nicholas Gyeney

Cast: Manu Bennett, Larenz Tate, Linden Ashby, Kevin Stover, and Brandy Kopp

Studio: Screen Media Films

Runtime: 88 Minutes

Release: In Theaters July 22, 2016.

Rated: NR

Rating ★★★★★

How would you feel if you were playing your favorite video game and saw on the news that what you were doing in-game was happening in the real world? Would you think it was mere coincidence or something more sinister?

Beta Test, written and directed by Nicholas Gyeney, takes us on the journey of former video game champion Max Troy (Larenz Tate). When Max is testing out a soon-to-be released video game, he discovers what he’s doing is actually happening in real life. He then decides to team up with the game’s protagonist, Orson Creed (Manu Bennett), and together, they uncover the evil plan the game’s creator Kincaid (Linden Ashby) has in store.

I love video games. They’re one of the few pieces of entertainment I love equally as well as movies. So when afilm about video games is released, not only do I get excited,I worry. Video game movies have a track record of being low quality. Although it’s safe to say Beta Test is an entertaining film, it isn’t in the way you might think.

Manu Bennett as Orson Creed.

Beta Test is one of those rare ‘so bad, it’s good’ films. From its over-the-top acting and sheer absurd storyline, this film is one of the funniest ones I’ve seen this year.

I knew what I was in for when early on in the film, we see the world’s futuristic gaming console, only to find out it looks like someone took their old Nintendo Gamecube and painted it red. This level of cheapness applies to almost every aspect of Beta Test. The film looks and feels like it was originally meant to air on the Syfy channel.

Bennett is hilarious. He delivers each line with the same gravelly monotone voice and each time, whether intentional or not, had me laughing due to how cheesy it is. Bennett has proved himself to be a talented actor in series like Arrow and Spartacus so it is sad to see him play such a one-dimensional action hero.

This cheesiness, unfortunately, extends to all the villains, especially Zane (Kevon Stover). He’s pretty much a cartoon character, complete with a vile goatee and a stereotypically evil demeanor. Zane gives instructions for missions Orson is supposed to complete and each one feels like it is ripped right out of a bad video game. Perhaps this was an intentional choice due to the subject matter, but there are scenes where he’s meant to be threatening and it’s hard to take him seriously.

Larenz Tate steals the show as tester Max Troy.

Tate is surprisingly great. He has enough charisma and acting chops to make a forgettable character like Max one worth caring for. I do wish, however, he had been given more to do besides sit and pretend to play a video game throughout the majority of Beta Test.

Despite being an action movie, the majority of action sequences are not that exciting. Most of the scenes are done utilizing CGI to make it seem like we’re watching video game footage. This ends up hindering the movie due to effects that look very poor, making what should be an intense moment unintentionally hilarious.

There are, however, some impressive action moments in Beta Test. The biggest highlight is a sequence consisting of Orson plowing through wave after wave of bad guys as he makes his way through a building. It’s violent, visceral, and easily the best part of the film.

The biggest stumble Beta Test takes is through its message about gun control. Almost immediately, we’re introduced to this political movement “Keep Guns In Games,” about how we need to keep guns in video games and out of the hands of criminals. While this plot element tries to be topical, it ends up becoming a muddled and almost confusing message by the end of the film.

There’s also a scene at a school that occurs midway through the movie that tonally feels completely out of place. I won’t spoil the scene but it appears out of nowhere, and while it tries to be somber and relevant to current events, it ends up feeling awkward and tasteless.

Orson Creed on his way towards a mission.

Despite most of the humor being unintentional, the writing does contain some genuinely clever moments. One of the funniest scenes is when the film satirizes video games that give you the option to choose your own dialogue. Moments like this, though, are few and far between.

It’s hard recommending a film like Beta Test. There is genuine enjoyment to be had, but probably not in the way it intended. If you’re the type who enjoys Sharknado, Bidremic, and other films of that kind, Beta Test will definitely be a fun time. Those who want more serious entertainment should probably skip Beta Test.

For more on this film, go to http://www.mirrorimagesltd.com/betatest/
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