Quartile rating: 7.5/10 · 1 rating
An aging codger named Geri plays a daylong game of chess in the park against himself. Somehow, he begins losing to his livelier opponent. But just when the game's nearly over, Geri manages to turn the tables.
Geri's Game is a landmark Pixar short that showcases remarkable technical and storytelling achievement for its era. Its Novelty score is high because the one-man chess match as a vehicle for a character study of aging and playfulness was a genuinely original and clever conceit, and the short helped define what Pixar's character animation could become. The Ending earns a 4 for its delightful, comedic twist with the dentures — a perfectly timed, earned payoff. Cinematography is solid for a 1997 short but not extraordinary by modern standards. Acting is limited given the format (no dialogue, minimal vocal performance), so it scores lower. The Plot is simple but effectively constructed for its runtime.