'The Adam Project' Review: A Sci-Fi Adventure That Would Make Spielberg Blush
Following the success of ‘Free Guy’, director Shawn Levy and Ryan Reynolds have teamed up once again for a refreshing entry into the time-travel genre.
The film tells the story of a time-traveling pilot, played here by Reynolds, who combines forces with his younger self and his late father in order to stop time travel from ever coming to fruition and save the future. Fairly low stakes stuff. Reynolds is joined by a talented supporting cast that includes newcomer Walker Scobell, Mark Ruffalo, Jennifer Garner, Catherine Keener, and Zoe Saldana. Fortunately for this formidable cast, they’re paired with quality material, simply elevating it to new heights.
Reynolds has made quite the career out of playing an exaggerated version of himself, his natural charisma and impressive comedic delivery carrying a wide variety of projects, including his beloved ‘Deadpool’ films and the Netflix hit ‘Red Notice’. However, due to this new stage of his career, his talents as an actor have been obscured and often forgotten as he’s taken numerous projects where he’s virtually playing the same character in different clothes. Fortunately, the character of Adam gives him plenty more to do and it’s a fantastic change of pace. Reynolds not only exudes his usual magnetic charm, but he imbues the character with a three dimensionality that makes him endearing and extremely accessible. He gets to flex his dramatic muscles once again and the results are terrific. Simply put, it’s a performance that will remind long-time fans of the actor of the days where he was putting in stellar turns in great independent films like ‘Chaos Theory’, ‘Buried’, ‘The Nines’, and ‘The Voices’.
Paired with Reynolds for the vast majority of the film is Scobell, who channels a younger version of Reynolds with ease and charisma to spare. The dynamic between the two is extremely entertaining and heartwarming, especially as they begin to help each other heal and reconcile the loss of their father, played here by the always dependable Ruffalo. The scenes in which the three characters interact with one another are some of the best, most tear-jerking in the film. The unique father-son dynamic between the three characters becomes the beating heart of the film and is where this sci-fi adventure truly shines. Saldana and Gardner are also strong, the former playing the likable and formidable romantic interest for Reynold’s Adam, while the latter exudes tremendous warmth and vulnerability as his mother.
As for sci-fi fans out there, there is plenty to love about this film. Levy, who has made his fair share of successful family fare, most notably the ‘Night At The Museum’ films, is certainly operating within his wheelhouse here, directing the action sequences with a dynamic flair and never forgetting to keep a heavy focus on the main characters as the story progresses. Levy has continued to prove his action prowess, which makes him an intriguing and exciting choice to direct ‘Deadpool 3’. The action sequences are extremely well orchestrated and shot, the impressive and immersive special effects complimenting them. The pacing of the story is also strong, never once feeling stagnant or stop-and-go. The film moves and feels like a classic Steven Spielberg film, even capturing the child-like sense of wonder that firmly grabs you from the first frame and never lets go.
The only glaring flaw the film suffers from is its two-dimensional and lackluster villain Maya Sorian, played by Keener. The motivations for the character are underwhelming at best, Keener looking completely uninterested in the character she’s playing and it’s hard to blame her. She’s a talented actress, especially when paired with the right material, but she was saddled with the worst dialogue and material the film had to offer. When her character is on screen, the magic of the story begins to dim.
The Adam Project is a surprising gem for the time travel genre. It has a winning combination of humor, heart, and thrills, which will leave sci-fi fans more than satisfied and families with huge smiles across their faces. It not only entertains, but resonates as well, weaving a fun time travel tale and powerful story of grief and acceptance to boot. Come for the charm and thrills, but stay for the film’s warm heart. Oh, and make sure to have a box of tissues nearby because you’ll need it.