Passengers (2016) – Film Review

When the Sony leaks happened back in 2014 this movie was listed in their emails about making it. The plot and premise sounded intriguing enough, especially with the two stars they got to lead the film. Chris Pratt and Jennifer Lawrence are two stars at the top of their game who both have such high charisma when it comes to on-screen performances. The style and design of the visuals in the first trailer worked for me.

After seeing the final product I can say I felt that this story was good to tell on screen — I just think it needed some reworking in the writing room. I know that this script was on the blacklist for a while, and can understand Sony’s position of making a film people don’t hate because of decisions of the characters or the way an audience member would feel negatively upon viewing the film with such heavy life decisions at play. But, ultimately the film makes the choices some of the characters make into an afterthought and aren’t taken seriously enough.

You can’t get so hung up on where you’d rather be, that you forget to make the most of where you are.

The action and CGI is very well done and both actors give great performances. No one person on set becomes a problem with this film. I even found the directing quite good. The way it was shot was engaging. The space sequences were interesting. I did like the design of the spaceship Avalon. It was very unique and almost otherworldly. Something you don’t see everyday. Michael Sheen’s android Arthur was the right touch of comedy the film needed to add smart humor. The additions of Laurence Fishburne and Andy Garcia are small roles that could have been expanded upon. Wish they had done more with those actors.

Overall I found this to be an enjoyable ride of a film. I wish they would have gone more the cerebral route than the popcorn flick route. But it didn’t take away at all from me enjoying the film. I just wish that there would have been more philosophical edge to the film with larger consequences.

7/10