Hi folks! Nice to see you around here. I’m guessing that, like me, you all are sticking around Collin College for the summer. Well, I say good for you! Oh, I’m sure there are people in your life telling you to take it easy this summer. But not us, right? Those others can be grasshoppers and play all day, but we are going to be prepared ants.
Look, I don’t know about you, but I kinda need that sort of pep talk to keep me motivated. You can’t keep that brain of yours churning through simulations and calculations all of the time. So this month, we’ve got a movie that you can just turn off your mind and enjoy. And then we have a movie that reminds you to do that very thing.
The Wandering Earth (2019) [TV-MA (at least that’s how Netflix has it rated]
Earth has a bit of a problem. The sun is beginning to expand and will eventually burn up a good portion of the solar system. Luckily, there is a governing body, the United Earth Government, and they have a plan to construct a series of giant thrusters all across the surface of the planet and move Earth out of the solar system and to the nearest inhabitable one over the course of the next 2,500 years. During that 2,500 year period, the majority of humanity will live in underground cities housed far below the giant engines while more “essential” personnel man a large space station that acts as sort of a guide ship for the planet.
The plan is working out until the Earth gets a little too close to Jupiter and gets caught in the gravitational pull. It is up to forces on Earth to find a way to get the Earth back on track while a two-man crew work together on the space station to try to help their terrestrial friends and family.
I’m not going to lie. You are going to have to suspend your disbelief if you watch this. There are some massive physics-related issues here starting with the central premise that the sun is going to blow up so large that it eats our entire solar system. If you can turn off that brain of yours for a bit, The Wandering Earth is actually pretty darn enjoyable.
Sure, it has some cheese to it. This is essentially a 90s sci-fi disaster film a la Armageddon or Deep Impact. It has the requisite silly one-liners and questionable science. And it is also fair to ask how much of a political agenda is behind The Wandering Earth since one of the film’s backers is in the Chinese government. Maybe folks with more knowledge of politics and cinema can speak to this, but honestly I just thought it was fun. They may not have paid a lot of attention to science, but the production design and direction are top notch.
If you are in the mood for a different sort of summer blockbuster or if you enjoy disaster-themed action films, you really should give The Wandering Earth a shot. You aren’t going to get a super slick, modern Hollywood product, but I actually think that is part of the charm. Instead, the film feels more like an artisanal product crafted with an eye for beauty and an exacting attention to detail. It may not be a classic, but The Wandering Earth is a fantastic way to spend two hours. Just make sure to watch it on the biggest, loudest screen you can. You want to feel those explosions, folks.
7.5 paws out of 10
Booksmart (2019) [R]
Even the most high-minded and serious of us need to let go and have some fun from time to time. And, that is one of the messages in Booksmart, our second film of the month.
Amy and Molly, played by Kaitlyn Dever and Bernie Feldstein, are dedicated, purpose-driven high school students who are on the cusp of reaping the rewards of their hard work. Graduation is tomorrow and then they are headed off to start their Ivy League college careers. Molly discovers that they are not the only overachievers headed to illustrious institutions however. They are just the only ones who got there without having any conventional high school fun.
The friends decide to crash the biggest, wildest graduation party they can find and make up for lost time. This turns into a night of discomfort, discovery, setbacks, and triumphs. It is, after all, a teen comedy.
It may not, however, be a teen experience that you are familiar with. There is, for example, a genuine lack of meanness. Everyone seems to get along for the most part. I can see how that would stretch credulity for many folks, but to me it felt rather refreshing.
The script is no doubt good. And first-time feature director, Olivia Wilde proves to be a natural. But the heart of the film is the relationship between Amy and Molly. The casting and performances here are spot on. If there is a better, more organic portrayal of female friendship on film, I don’t know that I have seen it. Dever and Feldstein are so good together that it more than makes up for some of the other performances that are less polished.
I had heard a lot about Booksmart after its debut at SXSW and it seemed colored by a little hyperbole. I read a review that described it as “one of the most perfect coming-of-age comedies I have ever seen.” That seems a tad strong to me. It is, however, pretty darn good. Booksmart is a fun, bawdy romp and its two leads have a palpable chemistry that draws you into the story effortlessly. It is a refreshing entry in the teen comedy catalog and an auspicious debut from director Olivia Wilde.
7.5 paws out of 10
As always, if you have a movie you think I should check out or you want to talk further about one of these reviews, drop me a line on Facebook.