Directed By: Morten Tyldum
Written By: Jon Spaihts
Runtime: 116 minutes
I heard about the premise of this one a few years ago when the project was still stuck in development hell and for some time it was meant to be a vehicle for Keanu Reeves. Well, now we’ve got two of the biggest young A-listers as leads, but what attracted me was still the premise of what could’ve been an intriguing psychological sci-fi thriller.
Well, if you have seen the trailer or tv spots, the studios pretty much marketed this as two passengers who’re stuck in a spacecraft traveling to a distant planet when they’re awakened 90 years early. Within 10 minutes of watching it, you’ll realize that isn’t quite the case. A giant asteroid hits a part of the spaceship, causing a malfunction that triggers Jim’s sleeping pod to open 90 years early. Apparently in the future we still age as we do today, so of course Jim is going to die of old age before he reaches his destination. The first 15 minutes or so are pretty entertaining when it was just Chris Pratt‘s Jim Preston all alone on the ship wondering why he’s the only one awaken on board. There are some funny moments, i.e. how it takes 50+ years for his SOS message to reach earth and the machine says ‘we apologize for the delay.’ Ha! It helps that Pratt has that aw-shucks likable charm that the film puts to good use, but he could only sustain it for so long before he’s starting to get on my nerves.
When does Jennifer Lawrence enter the picture, you ask? Well, to talk about it would spoil the premise, so I’ll discuss that later in the spoiler section. I could tell you that her character’s name is Aurora Lane. Heh, the Sleeping Beauty reference is just way on the nose it’s lazy. And is ‘Lane’ meant to be an homage to Lois Lane as Aurora is a writer? [shrug] Speaking of Lois, there is a space *walk* halfway through that evokes the flying sequence in the first Superman movie… and of course Alfonso Cuarón’s Gravity. In fact, Passengers made me recall so many other [read: better] sci-fi movies: 2001 Space Odyssey, Sunshine, Ex Machina, etc. but in a bad way because it could barely hold a candle to those films. Oscar-winner Lawrence herself doesn’t really get much to do in this movie. She’s pretty much reduced to a damsel in distress, one with questionable principles no less, by the end of the movie.
I have to admit the visuals of the movie, which is basically just the set design of the spacecraft Avalon, is stunning and sleek. It’s like a pristine, futuristic mega mall, complete with state-of-the-art rooms and all kinds of amenities such as bar, dance studio, swimming pools, etc. The special effects of the pool losing its artificial gravity whilst Aurora’s swimming in it is pretty cool to watch. But it’s to be expected from a movie with a $100+ mil budget, and this movie is pretty much all style no substance. Director Morten Tyldum (whose gone Hollywood since making the Danish indie film Headhunters) seems more concerned with the actors’ physicality/physiognomy than their psychology. In a dramatic moment where Aurora’s supposed to be feeling emotionally distressed, the director shows off her svelte physique in a snazzy bathing suit that tells you nothing of what she’s feeling. Apparently Jon Spaihts‘ script was from the coveted Black List, though you wouldn’t know it from the final result.
…
For a movie built on the romance of the characters, there’s zero emotional resonance here. Mostly it’s because most people wouldn’t be able to easily reconcile the fact that a bored, lonely man basically does something so selfless. Obsession is NOT true love, no matter how slick Hollywood tries to package the story nor how attractive the actors they hired to sell it. SPOILER ALERT (highlight to read): At one point Aurora calls Jim a murderer for waking her up to keep him company, and that description is absolutely justified. There’s no denying that Jim basically stalks Aurora in her pod, then proceeds to rob her out of her future and deceives her into falling for him. No matter how you look at it, he’s a creepy dude who doesn’t deserve our sympathies, yet the filmmakers want us to root for him.
Aside from the unethical decision of the protagonist, it’s hard to root for either of them as we just barely knew them. No character development than mere superficial hints of their professions prior to their space journey. There’s also no real threat for any of the characters, even at the most dire scenario when all hell broke lose in the spaceship. Don’t even get me started with the bombastic finale. The mechanical failures in the ship feels like a cop out plot to avoid facing the morality of the story, while also conveniently give the protagonist a ‘get out of jail’ free pass. As for the rapport between the two leads, well they may seem like buddies in interviews, but there’s no chemistry between them as a couple. The hyped-up sex scene is pretty lame and I never believed them for a second as two people falling in love.
Well, I’ve described this movie in the worst possible way and I actually like it less the more I think about it. The only bright spot here is Michael Sheen as the android bartender, but he’s barely around often enough and his talents is wasted on this role. It’s also nice to see Laurence Fishburne popped up briefly, though his appearance can be considered a cameo. He did have one memorable line in the film delivered the only way he could, which only vexed me that he’s not around longer.
There’s really not much to recommend this movie. But the biggest disappointment of Passengers for me is that there’s an intriguing story here buried under studios’ meddling. It has the potential to be a haunting sci-fi that makes us ponder on our humanity, but all the thought-provoking bits gets swept under the rug [or more appropriately here, thrown out to space] in lieu of a generic space action adventure. No amount of star power can save a flawed script, pair that with studio meddling and you’ve got yourself a real cinematic misfire.
Have you seen Passengers? Well, what did you think?
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The previews for this looked intriguing, but from what I’ve heard about the actual movie, it’s worth skipping it. This review confirmed it for me. Bummer!
Hey Laura! It only *looks* intriguing as essentially the studios LIED about the premise as it’s not what happens in the movie at all.
You know I read a spoiler filled review last week and couldn’t believe they spent well over $100mil on this picture! I seriously would’ve walked out of the theater had I went to see it and then find out how the story unfolds. So yeah I’ll skip this one for sure.
I guess Hollywood streaks of successful space adventure films is done after Gravity (2013), Interstellar (2014) and The Martian from last fall.
Hey Ted! Well, I think J-Law now commands $20 mil a picture and Pratt maybe half of that or more, but yeah it’s REALLY bad, esp the last 15-20 min or so which is just bombastically-boring. Definitely skip this, there are SO many other better sci-fis than this one. Well I think space adventure films aren’t dead, I mean we’ve got ALIEN: Covenant next year and Blade Runner 2.
I question if those two actors are as valuable as Hollywood thinks they are, J-Law box office numbers hasn’t been that great with the exceptions of The Hunger Games movies and Pratt hasn’t proved himself he can carry a movie outside of big franchises yet. Hollywood is still trying to sell movies with “stars” and I don’t think people go see movies for star powers anymore.
Oh no I meant space adventures that aren’t franchises, I’m hoping there would be more “original” space related films outside of Star Wars, Star Trek or Alien franchises. I don’t think Blade Runner 2 will taking place in space though. 🙂
This echoes with a lot of what I’ve read about Passengers, especially your sentiment about how no matter how big the stars or how spectacular the CG or effects or whatever are, a bad script is very hard to salvage. Such a disappointment, considering the combo of talent and potential for a real sci-fi treat here. I don’t know if I really care to see this now. I could wait for the DVD. 😉
Hi ya Tom! I feel that the CG effects and star wattage tried to camouflage the weak script, which of course never worked! I think the original script might’ve had some thought-provoking stuff on there, but practically none is displayed in the final movie. I suppose it’s worth seeing when it gets to Netflix for the visuals 😉
Well, thank you for saving me the time and money from this. I thought it might be interesting because of the premise and sci-fi setting but I wasn’t so sure about seeing it because I’m kind of tired of J-Law who is just insufferable. She needs to get superkicked by Evan Rachel Wood.
Oh man, you’re absolutely right that Evan could kick J-Law’s butt!! She’s just as talented and less pretentious. I used to like J-Law and found her frankness refreshing. But now she’s just overexposed and annoying.
Thanks for saving me the price of admission! I’m trying find a movie house to see La La Land. Ah, good. It’s playing in Sedona. I’ll go watch that with my mom.
Hey Cindy! Yes go see La La Land instead. I think your mom would enjoy that, it’s a sweet homage to classic musicals like Singing in the Rain and West Side Story.
Good review. I have not seen this one yet, but from what I am hearing it might be worth skipping. Thanks!
Hi Bob, welcome to FC! Yeah I’d say you won’t miss much if you skip this one.
Boy this one is getting clobbered. The more I saw and read the less inclined I was to see it especially with so many other movies out I need to see. Really glad I didn’t hold up my Top 10 for it! Ha!
Hi Keith! It’s getting clobbered because it deserves it. You’re wise to avoid seeing this, and no it won’t end up in anyone’s top 10 best, for sure it’ll end up in my worst list!
Such a waste. I’m surprised the studios didn’t see this coming. It seems like one of those movies destined to get pushed into the January/February wasteland.
Nice review, Ruth! I have to agree, the romantic element is just not there and Chris Pratt’s character’s motivations are just creepy. He looks amazing in the film, which for me was the high point. In general I was entertained, but this wasn’t good enough for me, and definitely not as good as its concept.
Hello Fernando! Always glad to see you stop by. Yes, Pratt’s character is VERY creepy though yes he looks quite hunky here 😉
Nicely said Ruth! I still somehow had quite a bit of fun with this, but I still can’t believe the tagline is “There is a reason they woke up” which couldn’t be further than the truth!
Hello Allie! I thought it was you from the pic but I wasn’t sure until I clicked on your blog. Glad to see you’re blogging again, yay! Yep, that tagline is so misleading, well the whole promo of the movie is misleading and lame.
Aw yay, I’m glad you recognised me! I just couldn’t stay away from blogging, the itch to write just got me in the end 🙂
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Saw this the other day and, whilst relatively well done, it really didn’t fulfill its potential. It had its moments (the zero-G swimming bit was good) but it ended up being froth when a serious sci-fi was there to be made.
Hi Mark, I think froth is a good description, except it was being marketed as a serious scifi. The more I think about it the more I dislike this one.
You have nailed this one, great review thanks. This film starts as a great sci-fi, but it ends up a complete mashup of rom-com melodrama. Its a mess.
Hello CineMuse, welcome to FC! Yep, it’s really too bad as the romance is built on something so icky, yet Hollywood wants us to root for the guy as the *hero*
Old habits die hard; this film would have be more interesting if the gender roles were reversed, dont you think?
Yep indeed, though as you know Hollywood is always behind in race/gender roles.
I think this works as a survival space story though it isn’t anything brilliant. If you just kind of go in to turn your brain off and enjoy it is quite entertaining. Just don’t ask too many questions or a few things start falling apart.
Hi Karandi, welcome to FC! Yeah there are films where you know you could just be entertained by when you switch your brain off, unfortunately this isn’t one of them.
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