CAN you imagine leaving behind Earth and the people you love for a new life on another planet?
Director Morten Tyldum and screenwriter Jon Spaihts toy with this idea in Passengers, which includes a huge dollop of romance.
There’s a new habitable planet called Homestead II that’s so far from Earth that it takes 120 years to get there. Throughout the journey, one will have to hibernate until four months before reaching the destination. Due to a malfunction on the spaceship Avalon, mechanical engineer Jim Preston (Chris Pratt) and journalist Aurora Lane (Jennifer Lawrence) are woken up 90 years too early.
There are 5,000 passengers on board, but they are the only two who are awake. With no one to turn to, they grow close and fall for each other. Life is more bearable, until they discover that Avalon is in grave danger. They will need to save not only themselves but the other passengers too.
I love that the storyline is straightforward. It explains why the passengers are heading to Homestead II, who Avalon is carrying, and what plans are in store for them.
Passengers begins with Jim awakening from his hibernation. Confused, he struggles to take in his surroundings and is resigned to his fate. The first act is more of a one-man show. It highlights how helpless Jim is.
The usually funny Pratt gives an outstanding performance as a man torn apart by loneliness and suffering a loss of sense of purpose. The drama here is intense, but things slow down in the second act, which focuses on Jim and Aurora’s growing attraction towards each other.
I enjoyed the dramatic parts more than the romance, because I personally think Lawrence was too over the top while Pratt was more natural and relatable. Even during the dramatic scenes when they realise that imminent death is possible, she was too maniacal that it appeared made up. Still, it is this human and emotional story within the sci-fi setting that acts as the backbone of the film.
We learn more about what brought Jim and Aurora on this journey. They each have their own stories that you can perhaps relate to.
There are some nerve-wracking scenes that will make your heart race. One pivotal scene even questions: “What would you do?”
You wonder if you’d get bored of seeing just Pratt and Lawrence for almost two hours. Surprisingly, it’s not that bad. Their acting is strong enough to carry the story forward.
Jim and Aurora have a companion in the form of a humanoid named Arthur (Michael Sheen). He’s the ship’s bartender, who appears only in certain scenes. Something occurs that causes tension between Jim and Arthur, but the film goes on quickly like nothing had happened.
The drama element is all right, but in the science fiction bit, Passengers is rather lacking. I expected a more complex storyline or a more futuristic setting. The ending was predictable and too simple. It’s a waste to have such talented cast play out such a simple storyline.
Aside from the dramatic plot, I was also mesmerised by the sheer beauty of the solar system that the film showcases. It’s not much, but in one scene, the Avalon zooms pass a gigantic shining star. I don’t know if that is how a star looks like up close, but what an amazing sight!
Jim and Aurora also go on space walks. The view of the dark, vast space is foreboding yet calming and breathtaking at the same time. The setting of the film, which is inside a spaceship with a cool design, is interesting too.
Passengers possesses a futuristic setting, so it’s eye-opening to see what Avalon has to offer. It’s almost like a cruise ship; it has an observation deck, a movie theatre, a grand concourse and a swimming pool with a glass window that overlooks outer space.
Actually, the film’s dramatic storyline isn’t too spectacular, but it is the space setting that makes it more special and uncommon. The computerised graphics are excellently presented, from the vast empty space and gorgeous shining star to the robotic waiters that tend to Jim in one of Avalon’s restaurants.
I also find the characters’ clothing unique. The clean and simplistic designs suit the space theme extremely well.
Go watch Passengers if you like sci-fi flicks, Pratt, Lawrence or stories on doomed love.
NOW SHOWING : PASSENGERS
Directed by: Morten Tyldum
Starring: Chris Pratt, Jennifer Lawrence, Michael Sheen, Laurence Fishburne
Duration: 116 minutes
Rating: P13