Passengers: "If You Live An Ordinary Life, All You'll Have Is Ordinary Stories"

Director: Morten Tyldum
Writer:     Jon Spaihts
Starring: Chris Pratt
                Jennifer Lawrence
                Michael Sheen
                Laurence Fishburne
                Andy Garcia
Rating:    ****

Release Date: Out Now 

There is no question that Jennifer Lawrence and Chris Pratt are the hottest stars in Hollywood at the moment. Starring in the biggest franchises, showing massive versatility in their work and as people being extremely likable (though Lawrence can become grating). So, you know that when they signed up or a movie together, producers directors and audiences were going to be graced with an absolute smash. 

Passengers is an exciting and thrilling movie, but it is completely different from what I ever expected after watching the trailers. The first hour and a half is almost more drama than Sci-Fi, as Jim Preston (Pratt) wakes up 90 years to early on the starship Avalon, a ship taking 5,000 colonists to the planet Homestead II. For the first year, Jim is alone, isolated from any real human connection, only having a robot bartender (Sheen), to keep him company.

Chris Pratt & Jennifer Lawrence

Pratt shines in these opening scenes, embracing the loneliness and show just how desperate he is for some company. He soon comes across a moral dilemma when he finds Aurora (Lawrence), still asleep in her pod. He falls for her instantly, and struggles with whether or not to wake her up. His journey is already fully formed by the time Aurora enters the picture, allowing you to feel for both characters in very different ways.

Lawrence is strong, sensual and passionate as Aurora, falling for Jim and developing a beautiful and complicated relationship. She begins to write a book about her time awake, with just Jim and a robot to keep her company, using that as a way to cope with loneliness and fear. The chemistry between the two stars is as close to perfection as you can get. They are natural, bounce of one another and so easy to root for; which makes certain scenes even harder to watch.

Michael Sheen

As the film approaches the last half an hour or so, it suddenly becomes a fast-paced and almost rushed 'the ship is broken we need to fix it' action film. It is clear that something has gone wrong, due to Jim waking up too early, but for some reason that is never really addressed fully until right at the end, and then they throw in an action sequence to make Pratt the hero, and then Lawrence the hero. While it is an exciting and intense set piece, ending with a powerful punch; it just feels slightly manic, and not in a way that helps push the story onwards.

Passengers is genuinely a stunning film visually but also a stunning film emotionally. Lead by two talented stars and helmed by a director who is clearly passionate about making heartfelt films (Morten Tyldum), it is a terrific example of a big budget film still retaining the heart and soul that many lose along the way. Despite its rushed finale, Passengers is an exciting Sci-Fi drama packed with chemistry, fire and adrenaline.

 Passengers - Trailer