Solid Movie

Rating: 7/10 (13 February 2017)

Chris Pratt and Jennifer Lawrence are probably the two most in demand personalities right now in Hollywood. They are so likable, all their promotional interviews were an absolute blast to watch and never a dull moment too. So you can imagine my shock to hear how badly this movie was being reviewed. Ten minutes later I realised these are the snobby critic reviews who love hipster garbage and just swing towards controversial nonsense that has a political theme to them. A sci-fi Romance is not their thing. So I withheld judgement until I watched it for myself. This movie is....solid! I admit it did not blow me away but neither was it bad in the slightest. Reminiscent of the classic Titanic in space theme but without leaving you with your mouth open in aw. Whilst "Epic" in its scale, set design and in plot. For some reason this film to me missed its mark in making me feel terrified for these characters. I believe part of my problem personally was that I watched too many interviews with Chris Pratt and Jennifer Lawrence together. Their chemistry off screen seemed so genuine and funny, like they were truly good friends. When i saw them together on screen I couldn't imagine them together romantically anymore and the writing for these characters were no where near as good as their dialogue together in real life. In a weird way i felt more intensity between them off screen then on screen. In the build up to this movie they advertised it suggesting there is an ultimate reason they woke up from their hibernation pods, that their is a plot twist or cliff hanger we are waiting on throughout the movie. Are they all going to die? is there really a planet on the other side of this mission? What could the reason be? However in the first scene of the movie you see what happens for Jims pod to malfunction and him to wake up. It was not a dramatic opening, you watch it thinking "Yeh i guess that's what happens in space, should have built a better ship". From then you can guess how Aroura's pod opens for her to wake up. It came about without shock but with ease. So by the end of the movie you look back and there is no moment that stands out as "wow! I can't believe that". It is all very typical. The pacing of this movie is strange too, in about 20 minutes of the movie you watch a year pass by. Then in the middle of the movie you watch another year pass by. In the final act you watch it as if it is real time, like a ticking time bomb that needs defusing in 10 minutes. Yet when you watch the movie, I don't really buy into it. I just think how they stuck a fake beard on Jims face and how they say the key words here and there to represent natural romantic progression.
Having said all this the plot is good. Ultimately you know whats happening but you like it none the less because it is charming, it is romantic, it is funny and it takes place on a beautiful set. Yes the set design is phenomenal. Which brings me on to the action scenes. There is one scene that makes this film from dropping down to a 6/10. That's the pool scene. I wont give away what happens but when you watch it you empathise right away with the situation and you feel the panic as to what is happening. It is executed perfectly and is a great feet in stunt design. The performance by Michael Sheen is probably the best in the film. Not to take away from the lead pair, but I felt he had the most to work with, playing a robot that is their at human disposal. to remain neutral to all things yet offer a sense of calmness/creepiness and charm all at once. A great job by him. I also enjoyed the ending to this movie. Although there is nothing here to make you stand up and applause. You leave with a smile on your face feeling good. Which is a lot more than most films can offer.
Overall this movie was Solid. It could have been so much more and equally could have become absolute rubbish.