Review by Jon Donnis
One of the more popular actors of modern times, Ryan Reynolds is back in his latest Netflix film.
Directed by Shawn Levy, The Adam Project stars Ryan Reynolds as Adam Reed a fighter pilot in 2050, the film starts with him in his jet being chased in the upper atmosphere of Earth, before you know it, he has opened a wormhole and travelled back in time to 2022, and crash lands. He goes to the only place he knows will exist in 2022, that being his family house. He is injured and needs medical help.
With all the usual Time Travel clichés thrown out of the window, big Adam soon meets little Adam, (Played by Walker Scobell), and reveals who he is. And before you know it, they have teamed up on a mission to save Laura Reed (Adams future wife, played by Zoe Saldaña).
Confused yet? Well big Adam jumped to the wrong time, he meant to go to 2018, which means more time travel, and then meeting up with Adam's father who died in 2021, who just so happened to have invented time travel.
The Adam Project is a proper old fashioned family film, but with a bit of modern language, and some great special effects thrown in. With Ryan Reynolds, you know you are going to get some sharp humour, which Walker Scobell as young Adam matches perfectly.
You have bad guys chasing them, fight scenes, standing up to school bullies, playing ball in the garden, giant electromagentic machines. A bit of something for everyone.
A mixture of comedy, sci fi, and adventure, and you really do have an enjoyable film. I do worry sometimes that Netflix just makes films from algorithms, instead of developing good stories, but this film was originally started over 10 years ago, with Tom Cruise linked to the main role. Fast forward ten years and Netflix got the rights and made it with a much better choice for lead.
The film has its silly moments, which is totally understandable since it needs to appeal to all ages, and one of the main characters is 12, so a fart joke is perfectly fine in my opinion.
But the film also has its tender moments, emotional journeys, and facing up to fears, and it manages to do all of this without coming across as preachy, which is tough in the modern era, I think.
Although a time travel film, it doesn't get too bogged down with the minutiae, and where it does differ from other such films, it explains the science in a quick and easily understandable manner.
Mark Ruffalo as Louis Reed, Adams father, comes into the film about half way through, but fits in well, and if anything, I would have liked to have seen more of Ruffalo, who I always enjoy. Jennifer Garner as Ellie Reed, Adam's mother, is well cast, but she doesn't have the kind of emotional journey that other characters do, and at times feels like she is just there because they needed a well-known actress to play Adams mother.
Thoroughly enjoyable film, that you can sit down on your own to watch, with a partner, or with your whole family.
The Good
Fun story, great cast, top quality special effects, and perfect Saturday night viewing.
The Bad
Not enough Jennifer Garner or Mark Ruffalo.
Overall
Best new Netflix release this month, put it to the top of your "to watch" list.
I score The Adam Project a strong 8/10
Out Now on Netflix
