The movie begins with a hurricane on Mars, a life-threatening debris storm, and a spaceship that might not be able to lift off in the chaos.
And that’s the easy part.
After the rocket finally blasts from the surface, an astronaut — presumed dead — is left behind on the Red Planet, and he’s got to figure out how to stay alive by himself until a very improbable rescue mission could pick him up. That will take many, many months, if it happens at all.
So “The Martian” is a problem-solving movie: How will castaway Mark Watney (Matt Damon) figure out the fundamental problems of food, shelter, and communication? The film doesn’t waste much time worrying about issues of loneliness; after we’ve spent time with Watney, who has a complete lack of introspection and neurosis, it’s no wonder.
“The Martian” is based on Andy Weir’s science-heavy 2011 novel, adapted by “Cloverfield” screenwriter Drew Goddard. It spends a lot of time back on our planet, where nervous NASA honchos played by Chiwetel Ejiofor, Kristen Wiig, and Jeff Daniels are plotting out a rescue mission.
There’s also the departed spaceship, slowly making its way back to Earth, which is peopled by the usual diverse crew: Jessica Chastain, Michael Peña, Kate Mara, et al.
It’s typical of the movie’s dim regard for the audience that along with all this action, Watney talks constantly (he has a video diary), as though to keep us from spending too much time without exposition. The guy never shuts up — an understandable reaction to isolation, yes, but here mostly a crutch for telling the story.
The movie has already been widely hailed for being a good old-fashioned yarn, and an upgrade for director Ridley Scott. “The Martian” does back off from the wilder visions of Scott’s “Prometheus” and “The Counselor,” and it’s a more conventional movie in every way, so … hooray?
I like movies about solving problems, and Damon gives a skillful performance, and Scott’s ability to put you in the middle of a howling Martian gale is impressive. But man, “The Martian” is corny.
Its jokes are telegraphed a mile away and its many inspirational moments underscored by heart-tugging reaction shots. I’m amazed Scott resisted the temptation to put a dog on Mars so he would have something to cut to at those moments when the audience might not know how to feel.
For that, we get disco tunes on the soundtrack, a reminder of something “Guardians of the Galaxy” did much better. If this is an upgrade, our standards might be too low.
“The Martian” (2½ stars)
Matt Damon is stuck on Mars, and he’s got to figure out how to stay alive until a rescue mission can reach him. There’s some appealing problem-solving in this adaptation of Andy Weir’s novel, although director Ridley Scott plays everything so broadly that the corn rises pretty quickly. With Jessica Chastain, Chiwetel Ejiofor.
Rating: PG-13, for subject matter
Showing: Alderwood Mall, Cinebarre Mountlake Terrace, Edmonds Theater, Everett Stadium, Galaxy Monroe, Marysville, Stanwood Cinemas, Meridian, Sundance Cinemas Seattle, Thornton Place Stadium 14, Woodinville, Blue Fox Drive-In, Cascade Mall, Oak Harbor Plaza
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