Passengers (2016) Review: A Visually Stunning Sci-Fi Romance

**Simon** (0:00)
Today, I'm reviewing Passengers. Passengers, directed by Morten Tyldum, is a film that attempts to blend romance, drama and science fiction into a single narrative. The movie, released in 2016, stars Chris Pratt as Jim Preston and Jennifer Lawrence as Aurora Lane, with Michael Sheen playing the Android bartender Arthur. The plot revolves around the Starship Avalon, a spacecraft on a 120-year journey to a distant colony planet called Homestead 2 The ship is carrying over 5,000 passengers in hibernation, but a malfunction causes Jim to awaken 90 years too early. The film begins with an intriguing premise. Jim, an engineer, finds himself alone on the massive ship, grappling with the realisation that he will live out his life in isolation. The early scenes capture his struggle with loneliness and his attempts to find solace in the ship's amenities. However, the narrative takes a controversial turn when Jim, driven by desperation, decides to awaken Aurora, a fellow passenger. This decision sets the stage for a complex exploration of morality and human nature.
The chemistry between Pratt and Laurence is a focal point of the film. Yet, it is met with mixed results. While both actors bring their star power to the roles, the script often undermines their performances with clichéd dialogue and predictable plot developments. Jim's decision to wake Aurora is portrayed with a degree of sympathy, yet it raises ethical questions that the film struggles to address convincingly. The narrative attempts to justify his actions by highlighting his isolation, but the moral ambiguity remains a contentious issue.
As the story progresses, the film shifts from a character-driven drama to a more conventional action-oriented spectacle. The ship begins to experience technical failures, leading to a series of high-stakes scenarios that require Jim and Aurora to work together to save themselves and the other passengers. These sequences, while visually impressive, detract from the film's initial focus on the character's emotional journey. The production design of Passengers is undeniably polished, with the Starship Avalon depicted as a sleek and futuristic vessel. The special effects, particularly in the zero-gravity scenes, are well-executed, adding a layer of visual appeal to the film. However, the emphasis on aesthetics often overshadows the narrative, leaving the story feeling superficial.
Ultimately, Passengers is a film that grapples with intriguing themes, but falters in its execution. The blend of romance and science fiction is ambitious, yet the film's reliance on formulaic storytelling and its inability to fully engage with its ethical dilemmas leave it feeling unsatisfying. While it offers moments of visual splendour and the occasional spark of chemistry between its leads, the film's potential is undermined by its uneven pacing and lack of narrative depth. For those seeking a thought-provoking exploration of human relationships in a sci-fi setting, Passengers may not fully deliver, but it remains a visually engaging journey through the cosmos.
And that concludes my review of Passengers, and I'm giving it 3 stars out of a maximum of 5 stars.
Thank you for listening. If you enjoyed this review, please like, subscribe, and I hope to see you next time at Mindset Movie Reviews.