Charismatic leads - and not much else

Rating: 6/10 (30 December 2016)

I can see the meeting in the board room of SONY PICTURES as director Morten Tyldum (fresh off his hit, Oscar nominated film, THE IMITATION GAME) is pitching his new Space/Love Story PASSENGERS.
"It's a love story set in space", says Tildum, "We spend 95% of our time with just the two lead characters, so they need to be 2 VERY charismatic actors in these roles."
"Who do you have in mind for the leads", says Executive "A"
"Chris Pratt and Jennifer Lawrence"
"Green light"
Unfortunately for PASSENGERS, Executive "A" never asked to look at the script. Two very charismatic actors will need to work very hard to overcome a less than stellar script delivered by Jon Spaihts (Dr. Strange, Prometheus).
And work hard they do. Pratt and Lawrence are very...well...charismatic as a couple who are accidentally (or are they?) awakened from cryo-sleep 30 years into a 120 journey to a new planet. They play off each other well, the chemistry between them is strong and they are two very good looking people - which helps.
But they aren't given a whole lot to do but look distressed, then determined, then dejected, then in love, then angry, then despairing, then hopeful...you get the point. They are trapped on this ship and we are trapped right there with them.
Director Tyldum does a nice job trying to keep this movie moving along with some SPECTACULAR visuals, it is rich to watch - almost as rich to watch as the two leads - but, I think, even he knew he didn't have much to work with so throws his might at the Special Effects, where he should have spent time with the script.
And there really isn't much else to say about this film.
6 (out of 10) stars.