The Adam Project

Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Walker Scobell, Mark Ruffalo, Jennifer Garner, Zoe Saldana, Catherine Keener, Alex Mallari Jr.
Directed by: Shawn Levy
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Action, Adventure, Science Fiction
2022

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: A time traveling fighter pilot (Ryan Reynolds) travels back to 2022, where he reluctantly teams up with his 12 year-old self (Walter Scobell).

Review:

Tim: I had a blast with The Adam Project. It's never great, but it's thoroughly entertaining and provides a completely fun ride. It felt like a throwback film, those classic pieces of entertainment where you just sit back and enjoy. There's certainly a place for movies like this and I give Netflix's film a ton of credit. This was a lot of fun.

The story requires some suspended disbelief, but Shawn Levy directs the film with the perfect tone- it's all about fun and entertainment and it never takes itself too seriously. Much of what you see is done tongue-in-cheek and it allows you to forgive the film some of its shortcomings. Levy's done this a few times now- Real Steel is a good comparison. He directs a film that's action focused and feels light, but it subtly touches on some deeper themes. That's what happens here- it's a fun science fiction adventure film, but it also explores the idea of family, fate, and free will. I had a blast with the stylistic exterior and I really appreciated the depth to the script as well.

It helps that Ryan Reynolds is getting more and more confident in these kinds of roles. Blending action and comedy is a powerful combination and Reynolds has been perfecting his craft as of late. Levy and Reynolds got comfortable together in the equally impressive Free Guy and this film has very similar vibes to that one. Reynolds is hilarious and charismatic and he channels that all into his memorable character here. This is a role that directly plays to Reynolds' strengths and there's nothing wrong with that. Walker Scobell was fantastic, too. He had a tough role- to be believable as a young Ryan Reynolds. He pulls it off with style. Scobell seems wise beyond his years, his comedic timing was impeccable and he channels Reynolds' charisma and charm. The casting department deserves great acclaim for such an incredible film. Scobell was excellent here and I think we'll be seeing much more of him. It's always good seeing the great Mark Ruffalo. He added so much to the film with not a lot of screen time. Ruffalo grounds the film and gives a nice dramatic flourish to his character. He helps build a sense of emotional connection to the characters. It's a really good performance and I enjoyed him here. Jennifer Garner was solid, too. She isn't called upon to do too much, but she plays the role well. Zoe Saldana was great. One of my regrets with this film is that she didn't have a bigger role. She's such a talented actress and works so well in these kinds of films. I wish she had a bit more to do. It was fun seeing Catherine Keener in a different role. I thought she embraced it well and worked effectively in the part. The cast as a whole is quite strong.

The visual effects were good and the story worked more often than it didn't. I can't claim that the story mattered all that much- it absolutely felt secondary. It was a great excuse to watch these characters interact and it created so many humorous and engaging moments. But, the story itself felt a bit thin, a bit redundant with other films. That's never a fatal issue here, but it prevents it from achieving greatness. We might have seen all this before, but that doesn't detract from it being a thrilling ride.

I wouldn't say the film did anything truly great, but Levy executes his vision effectively from beginning to end. There wasn't a single moment where I didn't like the film. It's pure enjoyment and a blast to watch. The Adam Project doesn't have the greatest title, but it's a very pleasant, welcome surprise. It's a movie I would wholeheartedly recommend and it gets 2022 off to a roaring start.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 7.5



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: Real Steel, Free Guy