NETFLIX EXCLUSIVE, OUT NOW
This joins the list of sub-standard streaming exclusive fare to come from the acclaimed Marvel Cinematic Universe directors – so it’s no wonder they’re directing the next Avengers films to try and get back on track.
After the plaudits Anthony and Joe Russo received for Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame, the duo chose film projects for Netflix and Apple, but unfortunately this joins the likes of The Gray Man and Cherry – as well as their big-budget Amazon TV series Citadel – for being quite underwhelming.
And expensively underwhelming at that.
In 1990, a war between humans and robots left the world in disarray, but with the help of tech-company, Sentre, CEO Ethan Skate (Stanley Tucci) – who developed the Neurocaster Technology that allowed humans to upload their minds into drone robots – humanity managed to win the war, while robots were banished to a desert exclusion zone in New Mexico.
Fast forward four years and we see Millie Bobby Brown’s (Stranger Things) fostered-teenager Michelle – still devastated by a car crash which killed her parents, and seemingly her child prodigy brother (Woody Norman) – being tracked by sentient robot Cosmo (voiced by Alan Tudyk), who convinces her he’s being controlled by her deceased sibling.
Along the way across the dystopian landscape to try and locate him if he’s still alive, the pair are aided by veteran scavenger Keats (Chris Pratt) and his robot Herman (Anthony Mackie) – complete with stereotypical plot that turns them from uneasy disgruntled companions into friends ‘fighting for the good cause’ – as they look to stay ahead of Colonel Bradbury’s (Giancarlo Esposito from TV’s The Mandalorian) team of killer drones, at the behest of Sentre.
But despite sensibilities that fluctuate from Ready Player One to District 9, this isn’t as anywhere near as good as either – despite an occasionally noteworthy emotional story at the core.
Brown does her best with what’s put in front of her, Pratt plays it on auto-pilot as he goes from Def Leppard reject to Star-Lord, and some of the robots designs give the classic vibe from a Betty Boop-like era.
But sadly everything else is formulaic as they come, and this doesn’t have enough components working properly to come together as one coherent piece that will linger in the memory for more than five minutes.
Which pretty much leaves this in a neutral state of flux – with very little electricity to give it that much-needed spark.
ESP Rating: 2.5/5
Gavin Miller
Netflix Exclusive, Out Now
Cast: Millie Bobby Brown, Chris Pratt, Ke Huy Quan, Woody Norman, Giancarlo Esposito, Anthony Mackie, Woody Harrelson, Alan Tudyk, Brian Cox, Jenny Slate & Stanley Tucci
Running Time: 2 Hrs 8 Mins
Directors: Anthony & Joe Russo
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