Review of movie: Downsizing

Rating: 1 out of 10

My interest in the movie Downsizing arose on observing a movie poster (refer this linked post). I had always intended to see it while it was in its run at the cinemas. General busyness and other opportunities saw the movie run its course.

 

Image credit: https://goo.gl/images/LruFVR

While sitting aboard a long-haul international Qantas flight I finally had the opportunity to watch the movie. The premise is relatively straightforward: a married couple commit to a procedure that will downsize them to five inches tall. In downsizing the couple is doing their bit to save the planet in terms of over-consumption and pollution.

The movie was a huge disappointment. The aspects that were true to the downsizing process were concluded within the first half hour. The balance of the movie was a messy mix of preachy environmentalism, love story, exploitation and racism. I was left feeling that the movie had no real idea of what it was trying to achieve. In contrast; Jumanji – another of the offerings on the Qantas entertainment system – left no question as what it was trying to achieve in that it provided Jack Black wonderful chances to pull off some worthy character specific jokes.

The messy mix was devastating enough yet the real problem was with the starring actor Matt Damon. Simply put, Damon appeared grossly disinterested. It almost seemed that Damon perceived in advance that the only nomination that the movie would receive for the 75^th annual Global Globe awards would be for “Best Supporting Actress” – an actress that starred alongside Damon and whom only made an appearance at approximately the half-way point. Damon seemed so disinterested that I expected a breach of the fourth wall as he voiced a note to his manager of order: “GET ME OUT OF HERE”. Damon’s expression was poor and he largely plodded through the movie waiting for it all to end.

There was hope that something exciting would occur – like a five inch actor being plucked from a boat by a passing seagull – but alas that did not arise.

Damon’s character loses his wife in the early part of the film. The two of them had starred together on a previous outing. By separating the actors the viewer never sees any development of on-screen chemistry in this movie. With an established male/female actor coupling broken early in the movie, Damon seemed to be left to hold the fabric together for the other female actor to thrive. Damon is too big a star to be asked to do this.

Downsizing – watch at your own peril!

Shalom,

Ozhamada


Note: After writing this I noted that Paul Brody, a film critic of The New Yorker, wrote of the film: "“Downsizing,” is three movies in one—a passable one, a terrific one, and a terrible one.". See, Paul had his reservations about the movie too.