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MINIs are getting pixelated - on the big screen.
In a film called PIXELS directed by Christopher Columbus (Home Alone, Mrs Doubtfire), four Cooper S three-door models are used by the heroes (Adam Sandler, Peter Dinklage, Denis Akiyama and Josh Gad) after the world 'turns into a real-life video game'.
The plot centres on aliens misinterpreting arcade game signals of the 1980s as an act of war, sending Pac-Man and Donkey Kong to Earth where they digitise everything they touch. The US Government turns to four talented old-school gamers to battle this invasion force - and, as you'd surely expect, gives them four MINI Cooper S cars as weaponry. Right.
PIXELS was inspired by a 2010 French animated short (of the same name but not in all-capitals) by Patrick Jean. The 2015 version also stars Kevin James and Michelle Monaghan.
Anything else?
Set for a release in US cinemas on July 24, PIXELS pays particular homage to iconic video game Pac-Man. And, if (like us) you're a real arcade geek, you might notice that the MINIs look like the four ghosts from the classic coin-op. That's on purpose: the 'Cooper Ghosts' are called Blinky, Pinky, Inky and Clyde, and are painted in the colours to match. Here's hoping no one on the bad guys' team eats a Power Pill during the film...