Director: Shawn Levy
Writers: Jonathan Tropper, T.S. Nowlin, Jennifer Flackett
Stars: Ryan Reynolds, Walker Scobell, Mark Ruffalo, Jennifer Garner, Zoe Saldana
Ryan Reynolds and Director Shawn Levy have reteamed once again, after the success of their movie ‘Free Guy’, they return with the Netflix Sci-fi movie ‘The Adam Project’. It seems Netflix has found it’s key to success in Ryan Reynolds and with ‘The Adam Project’, it’s no different. Reynolds and Levy have found a chemistry that creates the perfect balance in pictures, and ‘The Adam Project’ showcases that, it’s a fun sci-fi action romp that packs a lot of heart.
Reynolds plays Adam a pilot from the future who travels back in time, to undo his visionary father’s work in the past so that the father’s evil business partner is stopped from exploiting the technology and ruling the planet. He also meets his teenage self, who also becomes his partner. The Young Adam (played by Walker Scobell) is still reeling from the death of his father, and acts out by antagonizing the bullies at school. His mom, Ellie (played by Jennifer Garner), is doing her best to navigate single parenting, but Adam’s wise cracking self isn’t helping. It’s evident that Ellie and Young Adam care for each other, but Adam’s acting out makes him seem like a bit of a jerk.
What carries this film is the adventure, the endless action, the Reynolds humor, and most importantly the relationships between the characters. Reynolds and Scobell anchor ‘The Adam Project’ in a way that makes it endlessly watchable. Scobell’s acting is so on point you can actually believe this young man is Reynolds younger self. Their chemistry has garnered comparison’s to Marty McFly and Doc from the ‘Back To The Future’ franchise, giving viewers that sci-fi 80’s nostalgia.
Mark Ruffalo and Jennifer Garner aren’t center stage in this, but there characters bring enough charm to make a solid impact on the story. Zoe Saldana though I felt was a little under used, she plays the wife of Adam, and while she gets to flex her moves in some action sequences, I found her character does get a little forgotten in the plot. Her performance though was on point.
‘The Adam Project’ will certainly appeal to a broader audience, and Levy has executed the perfect family-friendly experience for it’s viewers. I have to agree this film lives up to the current ratings and reviews it’s currently receiving. ‘The Adam Project’ is an entertaining family adventure anchored by real emotion, and a film worth making time for.