Perhaps it’s asking a bit much to hope for a good movie to drop on the second weekend of January. But since I really liked the first Greenland film, which turned out to be a surprisingly heartfelt disaster movie, I would’ve been satisfied if its sequel was at least decent.

So, Gerard Butler is back as John Garrity in Ric Roman Waugh’s film, the same director who brought us the first movie that became a sleeper hit. Greenland 2: Migration is set about five years after the disastrous Clarke comet struck Earth, where the Garrity family has been holed up in an underground bunker near Thule Air Base under Danish territory with other evacuees. The atmosphere is still filled with radiation and ash, making it unsafe for anyone to go outside without a proper gas mask, which is exactly what John puts on when he steps out of the bunker.

The film doesn’t hold back in showing us just how dangerous that relatively short trip to the sea was, as a terrifying radiation storm forced John to rush back to the bunker. He barely made it back in time, but their safe haven is soon wrecked by that same storm, which forces John, his wife Alison (Morena Baccarin), and their 15-year-old son Nathan (Roman Griffin Davis, the kid from JoJo Rabbit) to migrate somewhere, anywhere, in search of a new home.

It’s a fascinating premise for a disaster movie, turning this sequel into a road movie for the Garrity family as they hunt for this seemingly mythical comet impact crater in France. I’m not a scientist, but even a bit of casual research suggests that such a thing could actually happen. While a comet impact can be devastating, it might also create unique, energy-rich, and chemically diverse environments in the resulting crater, making them potential hotspots for the rise or thriving of life. The Garrity’s adventure is undoubtedly perilous; they have to navigate through post-apocalyptic Europe, face deadly civil unrest, and deal with frequent natural disasters while searching for humanity’s last chance at survival.

I kept thinking that if only a better director and, more importantly, a stronger script than what Mitchell LaFortune and Chris Sparling came up with had been used, this sequel could have been way more entertaining. This script requires at least a half dozen more passes before the production team locks it for shooting. They could have further explored the humanity of the main family and those who join them on their adventure, like Dr. Amina (Amber Rose Revah). Apparently, Nathan is diabetic, as his mom mentioned to pack all his insulin when the bunker crumbled, but his condition barely got any mentions once they’re on the road.

People drift in and out at random with barely any impact on the narrative arc. Sophie Thompson is a gifted comedienne who’s been in some of my favorite comedy classics (i.e., Four Weddings And A Funeral, 1996’s Emma), but she’s utterly wasted here in a nothing role. The only glimmer of hope comes when Garrity meets a Frenchman (William Abadie) who turns out to be instrumental in their finding the crater, but their exchanges are too brief to leave a lasting impression.

I believe Butler is a good actor if he tries, but it seems he can’t seem to escape subpar scripts. This one is just another banal, corny, and all around lackluster like his ‘Fallen’ franchise… might as well call this one ‘Butler Has Fallen… Again.’ The movie takes itself so seriously that it’s ironically comical. Yet even a few attempts at humor fall flat, though there are unintentional comedic scenarios when the Garrity tried to cross an immense gorge using makeshift ladders and ropes. I kept thinking, ‘Who brought that ladder that seems to fit perfectly in that spot?’

This sequel is packed with cliched dialogue, dull action, familiar apocalyptic scenarios, and visuals so drab that I felt like I needed an oxygen mask just to get through the movie. I’m not looking for vibrant colors and sunshine in a disaster movie, but even 28 Years Later looks like a colorful wonderland compared to how gloomy this one is. I’m not sure if it’s a budget issue since DP Martin Ahlgren’s cinematography for Netflix’s 3 Body Problem is stunning. They say the budget for this was $65 million, but the whole thing looked cheap.

Ultimately, there’s not much redeeming quality about Greenland 2: Migration. Unless you are a massive fan of Gerard Butler, in which case no unfavorable review would ever deter you from watching this, I’d recommend skipping it or just wait for streaming.

What are your thoughts on GREENLAND 2: MIGRATION?

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