Life (Rated C)
Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Ryan Reynolds, Rebecca Ferguson, Ariyon Bakare
Genre: Sci-Fi/Thriller
Dwight's Rating: 2.5 Stars
Fans of TV procedural dramas seem to appreciate how each week, while not ever straying too far from the formula, these programs are still able to provide a satisfying hour of entertainment.
The new film "Life" is like an episode of "Law & Order" or "NCIS". While it doesn't break any new ground, it is undeniably entertaining.
We see that astronauts aboard the International Space Station are on the cutting edge of one of the most important discoveries in human history -- the first evidence of extraterrestrial life on Mars. As members of the crew conduct their research, the rapidly evolving life form proves far more intelligent and terrifying than anyone could have imagined.
For anyone who's seen "Alien", and any of its sequels/prequels and spinoffs, this concept and its execution will seem awfully familiar. While the original 1979 "Alien" was a full-on horror film, "Life" isn't quite as graphic. But with the high number of casualties amongst the crewmembers, things feel just like what constitutes horror flicks today -- as in when all the teenagers are picked off one-by-one by the serial killer or the robot or monster or whatever.
There are also many similarities to recent space-themed movies, like "Gravity", "Interstellar", "The Martian" or "Arrival". While it is neither as visually stunning and compelling as "Gravity", nor as cerebral as "Interstellar", it is, with the exception of Matt Damon's thrilling performance, far more entertaining than the slow-moving "The Martian". And unlike "Arrival" -- with what some have perceived as its underwhelming ultimate outcome -- "Life" certainly packs a punch, straight though to its final minutes.
And unlike "Interstellar" and "Arrival", it doesn't appear that "Life" is trying to make any statements about space exploration or the motivations of intelligent life in the universe, or about how we as humans should be treating each other here on Earth. Its goals seem far less lofty.
The preponderance of scientific jargon at times is supposed to elevate this from the typical slasher flick. And, for the most part, it is successful, largely avoiding the silliness that often accompanies films in that genre. Younger moviegoers, who seem to be the biggest fans of these films, probably flocked to "Power Rangers" last weekend. But "Life" will more than likely be right up their alley, even with its cast ranging in age from 33 to 56, and its absence of teenagers.
There are relatively decent performances from the cast, particularly from Jake Gyllenhaal, Ryan Reynolds, and British actor Ariyon Bakare, and there are a couple of surprises in the story. The alien -- which starts out as an almost "cute", baby-like creature -- morphs into quite a creepy monster, providing plenty of edge-of-your-seat tension.
So, you likely won't be pondering the meaning of "life" at the completion of the film, and if you're seeking a mind-blowing, "a-ha" moment you'll need to look elsewhere. But "Life" is a fun hour-and-a-half of entertainment.
o Dwight Strachan is the host/producer of " Morning Blend" on Guardian Radio. He is a television producer and writer, and an avid TV history and film buff. Email dwight@nasguard.com and follow him on twitter @morningblend969.
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