Ordinary chase in grim future

Rating: 7/10 (6 September 2008)

Recap: It's the future, and it's not looking good. Mankind have lost the ability to bear children and the youngest human, now over 18 years old, have just been murdered. Most societies has collapsed, and the few that remains, Britain for example, are overrun by illegal immigrants. In response to that, Britain has turned into a militant (fascist) society with an oppressive police force and frequent identity and security checks. And in response to that outlaw groups form to fight the oppressive system.
Theo Faron just got kidnapped by one of these groups, the Fishes. His ex-wife Julian runs it and she needs some papers that allow travel through the country. For she has found a pregnant woman. But she is not the only one that wants the baby.
Soon Theo and the young woman, Kee, is in a run for their lives.
Comments: There is basically two parts in this movie. Two parts that unfortunately don't mesh all the way. Not that they contradict each other but there is very little symbiosis between the two either.
The first part is the surroundings, the environment, the setting. The fascistic and dystopian future. The loss of all the children. All the immigrants and the camps they are interred in. The general breakdown of society and human rights. Very interesting and could be discussed at length. But aside from setting the ground rules it doesn't have much of an impact on the rest of the story.
The story is the second part. The mission to get the pregnant girl and her baby to the coast and into safety. And the ensuing chase by the military/police and mostly by the underground group the Uprising who wants the baby as a political tool in their violent uprising against the government. Suddenly Theo and Kee find themselves alone and nobody to trust.
The problem is that the chase, apart from the prize being a kid, is not really dependent on the setting. It is mostly a chase that could take place anyplace anytime. Not that it is bad, it is not. It holds unexpected twists and turns, it has suspense. The actors are good, especially Clive Owen who fits nicely as a rugged and depressed man that becomes the unwilling hero. He looks the part and he acts the part. Very good.
But going from good to great is a steep climb. You need the two parts to interact, to evolve together. You want some questions raised, questions to ponder while (and after) you're watching. Children of Men does not. It accurately describes the setting and then launches a story, straight from beginning to the end.
It was a good movie. Entertaining to watch. But for me, it was not great. And surely not one of the top 250 movies on IMDb as it was when this was written.
7/10