LOVE AND MONSTERS (2020)
(Adventure, Action, Comedy) [PG-13]
Oh, and one last thing. Don't settle. You don't have to. Not even at the end of the world. Signing off, Joel Dawson.
Oh man, this movie is nuts. First off, it takes place in a world that has been decimated after some chemical sent up in rockets to destroy an asteroid that was headed to earth comes back down from space. The chemical turns bugs and other creatures into oversized monsters that take over the earth. Only about 10% of the population remains and they mostly live underground, only going to the surface for supplies when they absolutely have to. Joel (played by Dylan O'Brien mostly known for MAZE RUNNER) lives in one of the colonies and his girlfriend (played by Jessica Henwick, who was in both Iron Fist and GODZILLA VS KONG) lives 80 miles away in another one. After 7 years, he’s finally done with making minestrone and he’s going to meet up with his one true love. Can he survive the trip and what could he learn that would change the course of history?
Cinematically this movie is really well done and the soundtrack and score are both pretty strong. This feels almost like an independent film because it isn’t super polished, but it draws you into a realistic dirty world in the aftermath of chaos. The CGI is very credible which helps the film leave the cheese behind while still maintaining its comedic elements. The dialog is smart and compelling drawing forth inspiration to fight and live for even in the face of devastation and loss.
Dylan O’Brien is a very strong actor and has always been able to carry a film. This one is no exception but the supporting cast is also very good. You can never go wrong by adding film veteran Michael Rooker (best known for GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY) to your cast. Jessica Henwick is solid as per usual and Ariana Greenblatt does a great job in this as well, after only being in big films for 2 years. One of them was as a young Gamora in AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR.
I would call this movie a comedy in some aspects, however not all of it is that funny. The creatures in this thing are freakin bonkers. We get giant toads on crack, centipede-like creatures that are as big as a truck, and more. It’s all pretty spectacular. I loved the concept in this thing and how they explain how things got set in motion. The characters are both valiant and inspiring in their own ways and ultimately this movie I think rails against locking yourself down and giving up on life.
I don’t have any real complaints about this thing. Perhaps I would have shown one more of the larger monsters up close, another monster that was kaiju size, but the movie does give a good explanation as to why most of those are gone.
I will definitely be getting the blu-ray of this movie. Overall I have to give this thing a solid 5 out of 7. It’s not mind-blowing, but it’s a heck of a lot of fun and was a fantastic concept.
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