THE ADAM PROJECT

US, 2022, 104 minutes, Colour.

Ryan Reynolds, Walker Scobell, Mark Ruffalo, Jennifer Garner, Zoe Saldana, Catherine Keener.

Directed by Shawn Levy.

Here is science-fiction, science-fantasy for a younger audience. In fact, it is also an entertainment for adults. And this is the intention of the filmmakers, having two characters, two Addams – or, rather, the younger Adam an older Adam. The older Adam is played genially by Ryan Reynolds in his familiar affable style. The younger Adam is played by Walker Scobel.

The film is set in 2050 as well is in 2022. The screenplay depends on the effect of time travel, taking it for granted, but making some audiences wonder whether it it is at all possible (and, if it is, what are the possibilities!). However, all is not happy in 2050.

With the young Adam the focus of the story, we see him at school, asthmatic, bullied, in a difficult relationship with his mother (Jennifer Garner) because of the recent death of his scientist father (Mark Ruffalo). In the meantime, we see the older Adam stealing are playing in order to find his wife who has been lost in time travel, Laura (Zoe Saldana). However, he crash lands in 2022 instead of his intended target of 2018.

Audiences with a technological bent will enjoy the picture of laboratories, technology, scientific advances, algorithms and speculation as well as vehicles from the future.

And, for the action, there is an arch-villain, Maya Sorian, played by Catherine Keener who has an arch-villain enforcer, Christos. The audience sees her place in the developments in 2018, the death of the scientist, her taking over control of algorithms in time travel, becoming a dictator in the future.

There are complicated enjoyable twists, Laura appearing, her relationship with her husband, the issue of meeting him again in 2018, her helping him in his quest. There is also the introduction of Louis and seeing his work and his wanting to destroy the time travel algorithm. And, in the future, there are some spectacular chases and fights in the laboratories.

Direction is by Shawn Levy, best known for many comedies including the remakes of Cheaper by the Dozen, at the Pink Panther, the Night at the Museum series.

1. The title? The significance of Adam, the generic name for the male? Biblical tones?
2. 2050, the technology, the lifestyle, the technology, laboratories, time travel, power and dictatorship, violence and vengeance? The musical score?
3. The contrast with 2022, ordinary, homes, school and bullying, science and technology? The musical score?
4. Adam, 2050, the presence of Ryan Reynolds, his role as a pilot, the decision to steal the plane, to find his wife, Laura, again? Her disappearance in 2018? Stealing the plane, the travel, the crash, 2022, his injuries?
5. 2022, the young Adam, his age, interests, asthma, at school, bullied? Depressed about his father’s death? The tension with his mother? His finding the injured Adam?
6. Issues of time travel, the possibility or not, possibilities for imagining time travel?
7. The future, Maya, Christos her associate, in command, power, vengeful? Confronting Laura, Laura disappearing, faking her death?
8. The past, Louis, his technology, the algorithms, time travel? His relationship with his wife and son? Busy with the technology? Maya, the businesswoman, working with him? His death in the car accident? Maya taking over, exploiting Louis’ work?
9. 2018, Louis, his work, the appearance of the two Adams, time streaming the effect, decisions, to destroy the algorithm, to destroy time travel?
10. The two Adams, working together, sharing memories, bonding, the motel?
11. The consequences for the future, 2050, Maher, her ruthlessness, to destroy the older Adam, taking the younger Adam, his injuries? The issues of the algorithms?
12. The struggle, the young Adam, confronting Maya, the spectacular technological chases? Maya, her being killed, her younger self, so disappearing?
13. The restoration of order, Adam and Laura reunited, the young Adam, bonding with his mother?
14. An entertaining science-fiction, science-fantasy for younger audiences?