Released: 11th March 2022
Length: 102 Minutes
Certificate: 12A
Director: Shawn Levy
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Walker Scobell, Mark Ruffalo, Jennifer Garner, Zoe Saldaña and Catherine Keener
Smaller scale blockbusters have been gaining traction on Netflix with films like Red Notice achieving massive popularity in home viewing. The Adam Project is the latest release on the format; it won’t be setting the world alight, but it’s still an entertaining ride.
In 2022, the young Adam Reed (Walker Scobell) lives in a country town; his father (Mark Ruffalo) has passed away in an accident and the bond with his mother (Jennifer Garner) is less than ideal. When his future self (played by Ryan Reynolds) appears in the back garden through a time portal, the young Adam tags along on his quest, reconnecting with his parents in the process. One part chase-movie and one part drama, The Adam Project doesn’t waste any time and gets moving as soon as the older Reed arrives. The second half goes in a different direction as the two Reeds reconnect with their father in 2018. It’s a welcome change of pace as the film doesn’t forget about the people behind the action scenes. The sci-fi hi-jinks don’t overpower the emotional side, though it’s not a story that will move you on that level. The beats are predictable and the climax is more than a bit rushed; The Adam Project lacks the weight to pull you in fully.
The characters don’t stray far from typical family-friendly fare. Reynolds is more tolerable here than his recent films with the quipping dialled back considerably; it’s the right balance of mild humour and straightforward dialogue. His younger counterpart occasionally slips in some awkward lines, but the connection between present and future works well enough. Mark Ruffalo comes later in the film, but he creates a likeable father figure. As they look to destroy time travel, the trio does share some personal moments that draw out their human side. The film’s light-hearted tone and simple characterisation keep these from reaching higher. The side characters are the weakest element, most notably Adam’s future wife Laura (Zoe Saldana) and his mother Ellie (Jennifer Garner). Both are background characters who have brief moments of interaction before shuffling offstage for the action to take over. The villain is incredibly weak with two versions of Catherine Keener’s Maya Sorian chasing down the Reeds. Between Sorian’s underdeveloped character and her henchman’s equally hollow persona, they fall into the same generic category as other releases.
For a compact production, the effects are very well done. The Adam Project goes with a smaller scale sci-fi world that keeps the main characters in frame rather than trying to construct a future landscape. Technology is limited to supersonic space jets and intuitive weapons; the disintegration effect on soldiers lands with a crunchy impact in the fight scenes. The aerial combat is both speedy and satisfying with many long reaching shots that showcase their high flying acrobatics. On occasion, some quick-cutting can distract from the wider shots but the framing is equally strong. Like many modern blockbusters, the soundtrack is a mixture of standard action notes with a couple of pop songs thrown in for good measure. Like other components, it doesn’t distinguish itself from other efforts.
The Adam Project is a standard, run-of-the-mill blockbuster that doesn’t invite much discussion. It simply delivers what it sets out to do with solid effects and a story that doesn’t get bogged down in confusing threads. The lack of depth and characterisation is noticeable, but it remains a harmless piece of sci-fi entertainment that will give you some mild enjoyment.
Rating: 3/5 Stars (Fair)
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