Film Review: Wachowskis’ ‘Jupiter’ descends into repetition
The problem with early success is that it often sets an insurmountable standard. The Wachowskis — Andy and Lana — wrote and directed “The Matrix,” a brilliant movie that quickly became part of our collective cultural fabric. Its two follow-ups were hugely disappointing; and their next film, “Speed Racer,” had an interesting color scheme, but not much else. “Cloud Atlas” (co-directed with Tom Tykwer) at least had high ambitions, some of which were fulfilled.
Their latest, “Jupiter Ascending,” is another disappointment. But, hell, they made “The Matrix,” and it seems churlish to ask them to top it.
As the title suggests, this is another science-fiction film, even though the “Jupiter” referred to is not the planet and the “ascending” has nothing to do with its movement. It begins with a narration by one Jupiter Jones (Mila Kunis, clearly the true main character, despite her billing), who gives us a five-minute summary of her life to date, including why she was named Jupiter. Born in Russia... father killed... immigrated to Chicago... now cleaning toilets for a living.
The voice-over ends (and never returns) just in time for us to see “Close Encounter”-ish aliens try to kill her. Luckily, she is rescued by another, far hunkier alien, Caine Wise (Channing Tatum), a sort of bounty hunter whose DNA is part human, part wolf, in proportions never really made clear. He has Spock ears and canine instincts, but most of what we see is human.
He relates to Jupiter her multimillenial back story, to which a great deal is later added. Basically, humans began on the planet Orous and seeded Earth with their own DNA so they could use us as livestock to supply a liquid essence that lets them live forever and stay youthful. This is demonstrated to Jupiter by Kalique (Tuppence Middleton... Tuppence? really?), who apparently has let herself deteriorate into middle age for the sole purpose of giving just such a presentation at some point, should the need arise.
Thousands of years ago Queen Abrasax, Kalique’s mother, was murdered. Jupiter, sheerly by chance, has a genome identical to the queen, which means she is entitled to ascend to the throne of the multiplanet Abrasax domain as a sort of reincarnation. Kalique and her two rival siblings — Titus (Douglas Booth), a kind-of-maybe-could-be villain, and Balem (Eddie Redmayne), absolutely, definitely a villain — seek control of Jupiter in order to consolidate their individual power.
The rest of the movie comprises various bad guys trying to snatch and kill Jupiter, who repeatedly escapes with the help of Caine and his old compadre, Stinger (Sean Bean). It happens once... it happens twice... it happens over and over. Many of these action/suspense sequences have Jupiter dangling from unbelievable heights, falling, and then being rescued yet again by Caine, who has these neat antigravity boots that allow him to race through the air like the Silver Surfer.
You care the first time... you may care the second time... but after that the suspense diminishes rapidly. No matter how far she falls, Caine will always swoop by and grab her just in time. Eventually Caine has to race to the chapel to break up the Jupiter/Titus nuptials, just like Dustin Hoffman in “The Graduate.”
Not surprisingly, the design, cinematography, and art direction are lush and imaginative — though the 3D doesn’t help much — but it doesn’t quite compensate for the opacity of the Shakespearean court intrigues, which, more often than not, are impossible to keep straight (or to care about). “Richard III” it ain’t.
Those looking forward to ogling Kunis should be aware that the only pecs on display are those of Tatum (not that there’s anything wrong with this). And be prepared for confusion: The film’s ending leaves the lead characters in a strikingly impossible social situation, with not a hint as to where they go when the credits start rolling. It will doubtless all be clarified in the sequel that will never be made.
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ANDY KLEIN is the film critic for Marquee. He can also be heard on “FilmWeek” on KPCC-FM (89.3).