Downsizing (C+ or 2.5/4 stars)
'Downsizing' (based on a unique ecological concept by screenwriter Jim Taylor & director Alexander Payne, of Election, Sideways, Nebraska) is an ambitious social satire/sci-fi flick that starts relatively strong, but morphs into a tepid, uninvolving drama in its final hour. Mild-mannered Paul Safranek (Matt Damon) is an occupational therapist at the Omaha Steak Company who, along with his wife Audrey (Kristen Wiig), dreams of having the good life one day. It is the near future and, as the world faces an overpopulation crisis, Norwegian scientists develop a solution that can shrink humans to 5 inches in height. Dr. Jorgen Asbjornsen (Rolf Lassgard), leader of this team, is quick to point out that, in a mini-world, $$ goes a lot further {a middle-class couple can live like millionaires}.
Beguiled by a pep talk from pal Dave (Jason Sudekis) and, seduced by the promise of a luxurious existence, Paul & Audrey agree to undergo the controversial, irreversible procedure. However, at the last minute, Audrey balks, leaving Paul in the miniature community of Leasure Land without her! Devastated & disconsolate, Paul is eventually befriended by his hedonistic playboy neighbor, Dusan (Christoph Waltz), and his fiery maid Ngoc Lan Tran (Hong Chau), an illegal Vietnamese refugee, limping on a poor-fitting prosthetic leg. She forms a connection with Paul and even introduces him to the impoverished miniature masses who scratch out a living in lowly tenements outside Leisure Land's shiny walls, changing his pie-in-the-sky perspective of this "utopia". Soon they embark on an adventure to the end of the Earth {Norway}, meeting the original scientists who created this mini life, and learn the terrible, existentialist ecological truth about Earth & its future.
I'm just kinda bummed by what I just watched. The 1st 45 minutes of this lengthy 2 hour+ film are interesting enough; though, it could have been even more fascinating. But the sharp concept & humor in the script all-but disappears once Paul settles in Leasure Land, and the core premise gives way to a more predictable, melancholy, mediocre narrative trajectory -- the once-intriguing shrinking concept becomes inconsequential. It's as if Payne didn't know what to do ONCE he got to the mini world ... yikes. This whole cinematic endeavor is an oddity. I admire the ambition of director Payne & his team, but it just doesn't have the snap & sustenance that a film like this should have; it's too long, over-written & its themes about the environment & humanity become heavy-handed.
Now, I can't say I hated the film or that it is negligible in its particulars. The movie looks good; polished. The production design & visual effects employed are worthy of some praise. Christoph Waltz does his wink-wink, cheeky, mischievous bit that he normally does. And I really enjoyed Hong Chau, a charismatic Vietnamese-American actress who brings heft & levity to the proceedings. One moment she almost made me cry, and the next, I was laughing out loud {I recall a much-needed f*ck monologue near the end}. Really, the film becomes more about her than anyone else in the 2nd half.
And that's another problem. While Matt Damon always exudes a pleasant presence, his character is boring; with no discernible personality in sight. I did not care (literally) for his character. Paul's story is not inherently interesting; as written or performed. I actually only cared (a little) for Ngoc. And so, when not invested in the characters, what else is there to fall back on? There are some truly innovative ideas floating around in 'Downsizing'. As mentioned, the particulars are 'fine', and there's nothing to 'hate' about this movie {unless you hate that you wasted time on it}. But the crushing feeling of disappointment is what lingers. 'Downsizing' should have enthralled & engaged -- it just doesn't.
Beguiled by a pep talk from pal Dave (Jason Sudekis) and, seduced by the promise of a luxurious existence, Paul & Audrey agree to undergo the controversial, irreversible procedure. However, at the last minute, Audrey balks, leaving Paul in the miniature community of Leasure Land without her! Devastated & disconsolate, Paul is eventually befriended by his hedonistic playboy neighbor, Dusan (Christoph Waltz), and his fiery maid Ngoc Lan Tran (Hong Chau), an illegal Vietnamese refugee, limping on a poor-fitting prosthetic leg. She forms a connection with Paul and even introduces him to the impoverished miniature masses who scratch out a living in lowly tenements outside Leisure Land's shiny walls, changing his pie-in-the-sky perspective of this "utopia". Soon they embark on an adventure to the end of the Earth {Norway}, meeting the original scientists who created this mini life, and learn the terrible, existentialist ecological truth about Earth & its future.
I'm just kinda bummed by what I just watched. The 1st 45 minutes of this lengthy 2 hour+ film are interesting enough; though, it could have been even more fascinating. But the sharp concept & humor in the script all-but disappears once Paul settles in Leasure Land, and the core premise gives way to a more predictable, melancholy, mediocre narrative trajectory -- the once-intriguing shrinking concept becomes inconsequential. It's as if Payne didn't know what to do ONCE he got to the mini world ... yikes. This whole cinematic endeavor is an oddity. I admire the ambition of director Payne & his team, but it just doesn't have the snap & sustenance that a film like this should have; it's too long, over-written & its themes about the environment & humanity become heavy-handed.
Now, I can't say I hated the film or that it is negligible in its particulars. The movie looks good; polished. The production design & visual effects employed are worthy of some praise. Christoph Waltz does his wink-wink, cheeky, mischievous bit that he normally does. And I really enjoyed Hong Chau, a charismatic Vietnamese-American actress who brings heft & levity to the proceedings. One moment she almost made me cry, and the next, I was laughing out loud {I recall a much-needed f*ck monologue near the end}. Really, the film becomes more about her than anyone else in the 2nd half.
And that's another problem. While Matt Damon always exudes a pleasant presence, his character is boring; with no discernible personality in sight. I did not care (literally) for his character. Paul's story is not inherently interesting; as written or performed. I actually only cared (a little) for Ngoc. And so, when not invested in the characters, what else is there to fall back on? There are some truly innovative ideas floating around in 'Downsizing'. As mentioned, the particulars are 'fine', and there's nothing to 'hate' about this movie {unless you hate that you wasted time on it}. But the crushing feeling of disappointment is what lingers. 'Downsizing' should have enthralled & engaged -- it just doesn't.