Review of Chaos Walking (2021) by Voxxfoxx — 26 Jun 2021

With book to big screen adaptations there are always elements from the source material that will be changed to suit the screen or be edited out. In the case of this adaptation of the best-selling book series by novelist Patrick Ness everything gripping was inherently missing.

The ideas were there, and so much could have been done with it, who wouldn't want to watch a movie about men's inability to hide their thoughts. So much could be deeply explored; from the questionable thoughts which dart in and out of a person's mind with no meaning, to heartbreak or the relatively comical.

Unfortunately, what was delivered were mere touches of these possibly engaging plots points almost to the point you would assume any exploration was taboo and forbidden.

I kept watching in the hopes the dribs and drabs of 'what could have been' would manifest eventually. But, alas, boredom set in and the entire movie melded into one long thought of "Is anything good actually going to happen?".

This is disappointing considering the level of, both young and seasoned, talent in the film. But a great performance from Mads Mikkelsen, as the story's antagonist, couldn't save me from the poor script writing being a repetition of short lines; most of which are the main protagonist reciting his own name over and over into oblivion. Or enough to overlook the repeated references to an "aggressive" alien species native to the planet, which in actuality is only shown once in a brief scene and never seen or referenced again.

Coupled with the lack of engagement from Tom Holland and Daisy Ridley who, despite being talented in their own rights, had next to no chemistry at all and who's possibility of any love interest forming, despite the script hinting at the possibility of moving towards it, was more akin to someone finding and feeling sorry for an injured puppy. Or, more accurately, someone getting bluntly friend-zoned repeatedly which continuing to make frequent subtle hints at interest throughout.

There is certainly some merit to be had. But, for me, where it failed and what was lacking was too obvious to overlook for me to find the film enjoyable.