Trying to fill the big budget science fiction vacancy of early December, held by “I Am Legend” last year, this re-make of the 1951 science fiction classic has made advancements in the special effects department but this contributes little to the impact of the overall story. Keanu Reeves’ visitor form another world impresses only initially, when audiences first meet him and try to anticipate his intentions for the world. Once the initial wonder of an encounter with an alien civilization wears off, the film wanders without a clear trajectory. The decision whether to save or destroy humanity must not be deadline driven because Reeves doesn’t appear to be in much of a rush.
Despite a flashback that doesn’t relate to the main story, “The Day the Earth Stood Still” begins in the present day. Jennifer Connelly (“Blood Diamond”) is Dr. Helen Benson, a science professor at Princeton University and a world-renowned astro-biologist. She is abruptly taken by the government to a military installation. Dr. Benson soon learns - along with a group of other scientists- that an object is hurtling towards Earth. NASA believes whatever it is - it is not a run-of-the-mill meteor. This leads to a close encounter with Klaatu (Reeves) an alien envoy who looks human. He comes to warn humanity about its ways before it is too late. The military reacts badly to this perceived threat. Can Klaatu can be reasoned with to change his opinion of humankind before his robotic enforcer GORT carries out his mission?
At first the movie feels like a cross between the ends of “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” and “Deep Impact”. The perceived threat of a ball of light rushing towards the Earth and the discovery of a beautifully rendered alien vessel hidden with a swirling fog, amps up the viewer’s xenophobia. The introduction of a giant, threatening robot increases the tension. Audience’s initial curiosity wears away as plot holes are exposed and a wandering super-powered Reeves hijacks the story. Reeves’ appeared to be perfect for the role of the grim alien with the flat affect but his expressionless demeanor only works for so long. Klaatu makes up his mind regarding humanity’s fate so quickly and just as suddenly changes it. This makes it difficult to emotionally invest in his character.
Disaster films - which this movie is marketed as - usually have several personal stories to ground a hard to believable premise. In this film, there is only one convincing relationship, between Dr. Benson and her stepson Jacob (Jaden Smith; son of Will Smith). Smith portrays a hurt and emotionally cut-off child, with Connelly trying to break through his defenses. Both performances are solid but this relationship alone isn’t enough to compel audiences, let alone a wary Klaatu, to change our minds about humanity‘s fate. The destruction sequences in the preview are most of the action in the story. GORT is woefully underused, as some potentially great action set pieces are missed. Rarely do you want a planet’s demise to be rushed along, but this movie manages to make you wish for a much quicker end.
Rated PG-13 for some sci-fi disaster images and violence.
