‘After Earth’ Review: Not Horrible But Bland And Uninspired

After Earth Review
After Earth Review
Set a thousand years in the future, M. Night Shyamalan’s latest film, After Earth, is without a doubt the most uninspired and monotonous sci-fi movie of the year. With a lethargic plot sprinkled with lazy attempts at humor, After Earth ultimately crashes just as painfully as the manta-ray-looking spaceship in the film.

The movie follows an interplanetary ranger Cypher (Will Smith) and his teenage son Kitai Raige (Jaden Smith). After a crash landing on Earth, a planet no longer inhabitable, Cypher is critically injured and Kitai is the only key to their survival. He must retrieve the beacon from the tail-end of the ship so that he can alert home for help. The majority of the film follows Kitai’s journey, talking with his dad via an arm video gadget that allows for Will Smith to get some screen time in, but honestly, this film is all Jaden Smith. Fighting pissed-off monkeys, somewhat evolved lions, and an eagle (that we later learn has a heart), Kitai ultimately comes face to face with the ultimate challenge, an alien that can smell fear. Determined to prove himself to his father, Kitai is forced to grow up before the audiences’ eyes… only it doesn’t really come across like that on the big screen.

The similarities between Will Smith and his son, Jaden, are apparent in this film. However, Jaden lacks the charisma that makes his father so successful and entertaining to watch. That being said, Will Smith feels like he half commits in this film. Perhaps taking a step back to let his son really have the opportunity to shine, but at only 14, Jaden is just too young and unseasoned for a role of this size. So much of his dialogue seems unnatural or overacted that the point of the film gets completely lost. Yes, it’s a story about rites of passage and the repairing of a relationship between father and son, but with such weak performances and a bland script – it only leads to indifference.

Overall, by the standards of M. Night Shyamalan’s most recent films, After Earth isn’t terrible, but that’s really not saying much. With an awkward screenplay and actors that seem emotionally neutered the bar isn’t set too high here. I can’t even really compliment the film on its visuals as the CGI was just awful. It’s like a Syfy channel movie with a slightly bigger budget. And while it’s sweet to see the father/son duo on screen – which is clearly the gimmick of why the studio felt this project would work – It ultimately leaves audiences with an “meh” feeling. Take it or leave it, there’s really nothing special here.

Grade: D+
Review By: Emma

Responses

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  1. I was going to go see this but after reading this I think I’ll just wait till it hit Redbox, might even skip it all together. Thanks for another great review!

  2. Just goes to show that starpower doesn’t equal boxoffice success. A great story is the key.

    I’ll wait for the DVD on this one. Thanks for the review.

  3. I’m always surprised at how far M. Night Shyamalan has fallen at least with the public. I guess he set the bar too high from the beginning but now you hear his name and almost assume it won’t be good. Not sure what he can do to turn it around. Maybe direct a guaranteed blockbuster like a Marvel or DC movie (he is a comic book buff I think) or some other Twilight/Harry Potter adaptation. Something to return his credibility

  4. I saw a bit of this and it didn’t seem all that interesting. They talk really weird and Will Smith seems like a jerk to his son.

  5. Oh no. I had NO IDEA this was by M. Night Shyamalan. That gives it an instant “PASS” in my book. Oh God. Why do they let that man continue to get behind a camera?

  6. Just cam home from the cinema watching this movie,i got free ticket so i thought why not! and i have to say that i didn’t find the movie absolutely boring. But yes, the movie is not good either.

    M. Night Shyamalan should think really hard about his next project, if he gets any.
    As for Jaden, i think he has some potential to be a good actor, he just needs to take better characters.

  7. This movie was long and abit on the boring side. I wouldnt pay to see it honestly. Needed more action, suspense and everything really.