Today’s quick review: Jupiter Ascending. Jupiter Jones (Mila Kunis), a jaded young woman who works as a maid, discovers that she is the heir to part of a vast interstellar empire. To keep her from claiming her inheritance, the siblings of the Abrasax family send their emissaries to Earth to kill her. But Jupiter is rescued by Caine Wise (Channing Tatum), a genetically engineered hunter, who introduces her to a universe she never imagined.
Jupiter Ascending is a science fiction movie written and directed by the Wachowskis. Jupiter Ascending offers impressive visual effects, an epic science fiction backdrop, and a budding romance, but fails to live up to its potential. The movie is hampered by weak writing, bland characters, and an uninspired plot set in a well-concepted but poorly realized sci-fi universe. High production values and creative sci-fi are the movie’s saving graces, but these are not enough to make up for its poor fundamentals and lack of heart.
The cast gives Jupiter Ascending a shaky foundation to work with. Mila Kunis plays Jupiter Jones, an emotionless, sarcastic protagonist whose few decisions tend to be mistakes. Channing Tatum plays opposite her as Caine Wise, whose troubled history and air of danger place him firmly in the category of bad boy love interest. Theirs is a dull romance; while the solemn Caine can be written off as the strong, silent type, Jupiter’s detachment robs their relationship of any chemistry.
The supporting cast fares little better. Sean Bean does a credible enough job as Stinger, Caine’s former comrade-in-arms. But the Abraxas siblings, Balem, Titus, and Kalique, range from passable to downright bad, with plot-critical exposition delivered at a whisper and pseudo-British accents sapping their remaining credibility. Even Juipter’s family, who are meant to ground the movie, fail to be likable or memorable.
The plot fits right into the teen sci-fi genre. An ordinary girl finds out she is a space princess, unleashing all manner of chaos and introducing her to a dangerous but eligible protector. Enough of the plot is repetitive, predictable, or misjudged that even the better scenes are buried in mediocrity. With a tighter progression and a more interesting arc, the plot could have been interesting, but its current form is lacking.
The writing is similarly weak. Jupiter shows very little development for most of the movie, and the attempts to pad her backstory are ultimately inconsequential. The film takes a running start at its plot, skipping early exposition to drop the viewer straight into the confusing world of stellar politics. The dialogue passes muster, but a couple of lines standout as cringeworthy, the handful of jokes fall flat, and the characters are not as endearing as they could have been.
The action is actually one of the movie’s strong points, with fast pacing, expensive CGI, and an array of creative sci-fi elements to play with. Between gravity skates, energy shields, ultra-maneuverable spacecraft, and a smattering of blasters, Jupiter Ascending never wants for action. The presentation, however, leaves something to be desired: the movie never savors its action scenes, opting instead to keep the spotlight on the weaker plot.
The travesty is that Jupiter Ascending actually has a thematically rich science fiction backdrop. The interstellar empire dominated by the Abrasax siblings has a suitably epic scope. Planets are bought and sold throughout millennia-long lifespans, while gene splicing, faster-than-light travel, and a variety of miraculous technologies offer plenty of sci-fi fodder. The disappointing characters and plot that come out of this setting do not do it justice.
Jupiter Ascending is a missed opportunity. With its polished visuals, ambitious setting, and flair for action, Jupiter Ascending could have been a stylish sci-fi epic with plenty to offer. But its weak characters, plot, and writing keep it from living up to its potential, leaving it a mishmash of elements missing something essential at its core.
Watch Jupiter Ascending only if you are willing to look past its storytelling mistakes for the sake of spectacle. Its flaws detract enough from the experience that most viewers are better off looking elsewhere.
5.4 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 5.5 for bad execution redeemed only by a few neat concepts and luxurious visual effects.