A Lackluster Retelling of Robinson Crusoe

Rating: Null/10 (9 February 2016)

One of the most important works of literature in the Enlightenment, Daniel Defoe's "Robinson Crusoe" (1722) tells the long story of a shipwrecked sailor on an island that in its isolation could have been the equivalent of the planet Mars in the era of Defoe.
Three of the most memorable parts of the novel are recycled in Ridley Scott's big budget film "The Martian." The stranded astronaut, Mark Watney (Matt Damon), counts off the "sols" or years on his wall calendar, just as Robinson Crusoe marks the passage of time on his island. Crusoe also buildings with great care a home in a cave. It is the abandoned spacecraft that becomes the domicile for Watney. Finally, Crusoe nurses along a plot of corn in his little garden, which ensures his survival. So too does Watney plant a bountiful crop of potatoes within his spacecraft! The first half of "The Martian," which works closely to Defoe's novel and depicts the survival skills of Watney, is the best portion of the film. Unfortunately, the second half lapses into a routine and overly sentimental plan of NASA to rescue the stranded astronaut, turning the film into a "feel good" experience about NASA and American patriotism.
But the film undoes itself with incompetence of the space crew that abandoned Watney in the first place. The inept NASA administrators and scientists are even outhustled by Chinese scientists, whose technology in rocket boosters allows them to play a key role in the rescue.
While the cast is filled with good actors, including Jessica Chastain, Kate Mara, Jeff Daniels, and Chiwetel Ejiofor, the film by design is a vehicle for Matt Damon. Most of the other characters have throwaway lines or strained dramatic close-ups as the essence of their characters.
Lengthy portions of Defoe's "Robinson Crusoe" are boring because the intent of the author was to demonstrate the loneliness and slow passing of time on the island. By contrast, the long stretches of time spent alone on Mars are filled for Mark Watney by disco music! Even Watney loathes the sound tracks that were left behind by his commander. Unfortunately, the audience has to suffer right along with Watney. For audiences watching the film at home on DVD, be prepared to hit the mute button on your remote.