Passengers : A Review

“If you live an ordinary life, all you’ll have are ordinary stories.”

ATTENTION : SPOILERS!!!!

---

I apologise in advance for the spoilers I include, it’s a task to discuss Passengers to any great depth or length without straying into that territory. I would say I was a rather late viewer to watch Morten Tyldum’s Sci-Fi release but felt I was obliged to make the journey to the cinema to watch the A-list riddled film myself. Passengers begins upon a starship transporter Avalon, carrying 5000 passengers and 258 crew members across space and time to reach the new world of Homestead II.

It must be said that the film starts extremely strongly. The film initialises with a dark but riveting love story that captured my attention from the get go, it flourished with great potential as the character Jim Preston (Chris Pratt) faces an unethical and mentally tearing decision as to whether or not wake the poorly named ‘Aurora’ (Jennifer Lawrence) from her animated slumber. After a year of mental anguish Jim does in fact decide to wake the sleeping beauty – can you now see how Aurora was a corny choice. It is virtually impossible for us not to identify with Jim during his situation and consider what we would do in his difficult position. Tyldum isn’t nervous to venture into dangerous waters in terms of Jim’s dubious ethical decision but nevertheless, as questionable as the outcome is, he does execute it with great tact.

No offence to Lawrence Fishburne, who’s role is unnecessary but fulfilled fairly well, but the downfall of the film initiates with his appearance. The film switches from what started out to be a compelling moral story to a horribly devised, poor Sci-Fi movie. The messy complication to climax transition takes the audience on a rushed and superficial journey that morphs the somewhat likeable protagonist to a super-human, death defying hero. It actually surprising how little character development is involved baring in mind there is only really three characters to develop in the entire 2 hours. The totally unrealistic survival of Jim and completely formulaic ‘disaster’ scenario, undoubtably sabotages the entire previous efforts of the film.

The film, however, does possess gorgeous aesthetics. The entire physical starship leaves me wanting to hop on board the luxury liner – it is stunning. The whole idea of the robots and design is highly well thought out and the particularly captivating scene where Jennifer Lawrence is suspended in a bubble of water is beautifully crafted. Unfortunately, the visuals and inclusion of arguably the top stars in Hollywood of our time is not enough to pick up the film from its gutter.

Passengers, on paper, has all the right tools to be a decent film but something is definitely missing leaving it an unsatisfying watch. However, it can’t go without mention of supporting actor,  Michael Sheen, and his performance as a robotic bartender which was a pretty strong and a pleasure to watch, but it was always going to be.