It’s the year 2050…a somewhat injured Reynolds appears on our screens, attempting to crash land a spaceship and immediately you feel yourself fighting the urge to ‘eyeroll’ as it’s quickly apparent that we are getting the same old ‘one trick pony’ Reynolds. Prepare yourself for a super cheesy dose of time travelling sci-fi that is, at times enjoyable; albeit this certainly won’t be the next Netflix production to write home about.
The premise is undoubtedly enticing: a world where time travels exists, yet underneath it all, this is a love story. Not just between Adam trying to find his missing wife, Zoe Saldana’s Laura, but one with every sci-fi you can possibly think of. We see newcomer Walker Scobell as young Adam, a seemingly normal kid who is constantly bullied with only his dog to keep him company after his mother is attempting to date after the death his father. When his older self enters his life, things start to make sense for this troubled youth opening a world of emotional growth and of course, lightsabers (what kid wouldn’t be excited by that prospect?).
There’s always a risk of releasing a film on Netflix with it being consumed on small screens at home; family members on their phones and one too many interruptions. Kudos here, as the world created is intricately crafted within the world we reside creating an immersive experience and might possibly make you want your own hoverboard you can ride to your own Time Jet – Marty McFly, eat your heart out (Scobell’s costume is no accident). Whilst, this is a good foundation to build on, The Adam Project borrows from virtually every single science fiction film you could think of, including Reynolds channeling his inner ‘Star-Lord’ to the point you start to think you are watching Pratt and not Deadpool, I mean Adam. It also doesn’t help when it comes to Saldana’s Laura, you generally veer into Guardians territory, just with less green paint (not to mention Ruffalo’s lack of bursting out of clothes).
If you are after an easy sci-fi watch with references that will make you smile with chills of childhood memories when seeing such things for the first time alongside a banging ’80s soundtrack – then this will give you a good dose, just don’t expect anything jaw dropping to happen. Considering this is brought to us by the ground breaking Stranger Things, Shawn Levy; not to mention the emotionally charged Arrival – The Adam Project is diluted into something much milder leaving you wanting something much more than what you see on screen. Let’s hope this gives something for parents to put their kids in front of on a rainy day.
The Adam Project gives glimpses of promise through a haphazard world that seems lackadaisical in delivery. Thankfully, the comedy alone, carries this one. With one too many patronising moments of realisation, Scobell singlehandedly lifts this up and quite frankly steals the show – expect good things from this one.
