Director: Chris McKay
Starring: Chris Pratt, J.K. Simmons, Yvonne Strahovski, Betty Gilpin
Running Time: 138 minutes
Synopsis: In 2051, humans are fighting a losing battle against alien invaders known as Whitespikes. In desperation, a group of humans travel back in time to 2022 to appeal for recruits (essentially their parents and grandparents) to join the battle through the Jumplink time travel portal. Iraq War veteran Dan Forester (Chris Pratt) is drafted into the future war, leaving behind his wife Emmy (Betty Gilpin), brainy young daughter Muri, and estranged father James (J.K. Simmons). Landing in the middle of a Miami battle zone in 2051, Dan has to lead a group of green recruits in a raging war with the vicious Whitespikes, and then teams up with his grown daughter (Yvonne Strahovski) to find a way to save humanity.
What Works Well: This big, bold, and loud science fiction war adventure enjoys some of the finest human versus alien combat action since the days of Aliens and Starship Troopers. The visual effects are impressive, with the Whitespikes playing their part as disgustingly effective and difficult-to-kill creatures combining size, nimbleness, and lethal intent. The war scenes are awe-inspiring, whether in confined spaces, wide-open cityscapes, or futuristic military bases. A couple of the secondary soldiers fighting alongside Dan add texture: Sam Richardson as an out-of-his-depth scientist and Edwin Hodge as a jaded multi-tour veteran of the future war.
What Does Not Work As Well: The quieter sequences approach cringe-levels of derivative recycling from other movies. Dan is saddled with everything from career disappointments and dad issues (in 2022) to seething daughter hostility (in 2051). Other than the reliable J.K. Simmons, the rest of the cast members are unable to breathe authenticity into the character building scenes. The film's colour aesthetic is an unfortunate muddy mess.
Key Quote:
Colonel Muri Forester (about the Whitespikes): They have no use for prisoners or government, technology, money... nothing. We are food. And they are hungry.
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