It's an Action COMEDY Drama

Rating: 7/10 (6 February 2016)

People ought to realize The Martian is an ACTION COMEDY DRAMA. The underlying plot of course sets the cliché stage for a very serious space drama, which most of these "shit always goes wrong in outer space" type movies gear towards. It's no coincidence this movie was released soon after the very serious and very dramatic (surprise!) "shit went wrong -- again -- space movie" Interstellar. The Martian is more likely poking total fun at the whole genre itself.
Most are well aware of Director Ridley Scott's ability to produce and direct incredibly dramatic and prolific films: Gladiator, Black Hawk Down, Prometheus, and more recently Concussion, and so on. He also has an uncanny ability to produce comedic films such as The A-Team (2010). He's simply combined these two elements in The Martian.
Here's how...
Terrible acting? Of course! The use of A-List Academy award winning actors (Jessica Chastain - Zero Dark Thirty, Interstellar and Matt Damon - Saving Private Ryan, Good Will Hunting) who are obviously highly-skilled in the art, intentionally doing a horrendous job at that very art. Ironic, isn't it?
The use of excessive corny and inappropriate humor in the most dire of situations in order to "psychologically survive our circumstances." Scott just simply overdoes it.
The sheer cheesiness of the movie. From the illogical, irrational, and absurdity of events, to the lack of egoism in a very egotistical species -- the human species -- setting their own human needs aside without much consideration over the actual terrifying risks and consequences placed on themselves to save an individual with a slim-to-nothing chance of survival. That is to be optimistically assumed from people, right? This movie also satirizes The US's gung-ho Cowboy attitude.
Our "friendly" Communist international neighbors willingly providing The US billions of dollars worth of advanced technological weaponry without any hesitation and no political implications is very likely, correct?
The "brilliant" heads of NASA are played by the most comedic actors of our time: Kristen Wiig (SNL, Bridesmaids) and Jeff Daniels (Dumb & Dumber/To). You can never take these two seriously in any serious role -- seriously.
And the soundtrack of the entire movie is disco. Disco music plays throughout this so- called "intense" and "dramatic" movie. That's just hilarious.
And to everyone's surprise, ends in a very cliché way.
But it still is a very well-made and entertaining movie. Enjoy it and just don't take it too seriously.