Squid Pro Quo

Rating: 7/10 (5 February 2017)

A slightly above average sci-fi film but nothing more. Aesthetically it's stunning, the acting is first class and I found the aliens and their technology intriguing. Amy Adams and Jeremy Renner are both excellent, with solid support from Forest Whitaker and Michael Stuhlbarg.
On the downside the story is a touch pretentious, yearning to be taken seriously. Through terminal illnesses and mathematical and linguistic conundrums it paints itself as something profound and new but in truth is lacking any originality or depth. Disappointingly there's also the usual clichéd sci-fi tropes thrown in, such as Russia and China being portrayed as insensitive and overly aggressive, the disillusioned rogue soldier who attempts to sabotage our heroes' world saving plans, shots of rioting breaking out on news channels around the globe. Yawn.
It's a decent film, and worth a viewing if you have any interest in sci-fi, but one I doubt warrants repeated viewing.