The Adam Project is a Netflix science fiction time travel adventure film written by Jonathan Tropper, TS Nowline, Jennifer Flackett and Mark Levin and directed by Shawn Levy. The star cast includes Ryan Reynolds as Adam Reed, Walker Scobell as young Adam Reed, Mark Ruffalo as Louis Reed, Jennifer Garner as Ellie Reed, Zoe Saldana as Laura and Catherine Keener as Maya Sorian. The film is 106 minutes long.
The synopsis reads, “After accidentally crash-landing in 2022, time-traveling fighter pilot Adam Reed teams up with his 12-year-old self on a mission to save the world.”
Netflix’s The Adam Project Review Contains No Spoilers
Adam Reed, a time-travelling fighter pilot from 2050, lands in 2022, where he meets the kid version of Adam. The adult Adam has made it big in life with good muscular looks, great career and skills. But as a kid, Adam used to get bullied by fellow classmates. However, if there’s one thing that hasn’t changed, it’s their unabashed style of saying whatever comes to mind.
Adult Adam meets young Adam, and together, they have to save the future/world. But that isn’t possible without their father Louis Reed’s help. In these 2 hours, we find out how Adam meets Adam, the challenges he faces, the bad guys in the story, and the reason behind his mission to save the future.
In the opening credits of Shawn Levy’s Netflix directorial, the text mentions that this film is dedicated to all the parents in the world. It leaves you wondering what a time-travelling story has to do with parents. But we find out what happens in Adam’s life during his childhood days and what roles his parents, Louis and Ellie, play. It’s a mix of different genres, and things could’ve gone wrong many times. But the writers and Levy tried to balance the story with sci-fi and action scenes and emotions.
First, let’s discuss what works for The Adam Project on Netflix. Ryan Reynolds’ Adam and Walker Scobell’s young Adam are hilarious together. Their camaraderie adds light moments to the story with sadness and loss underneath. Jennifer Garner’s Ellie also shows us the struggles of being a mother to an out-of-control kid. But she’s doing her best to be the best mother in ways she knows.
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When Mark Ruffalo enters the story as Louis Reed, you gear up to see something good. Well, Shawn and the actor have not disappointed you. Loius Reed brings warmth to the story with his presence in both Adams’ lives. He’s a mad scientist and an endearing father. Mark and Ryan have a scene together in the end which will leave you in tears. That’s THE BEST highlight of the film for me.
However, when the bad guys come in and try to attack Adam to end his mission, the plot loses its charm. Some scenes are magnificent but too stretched. These fight scenes in 2022 make you wonder why are people not bothered that there’s something happening around them. At times, you think you’re watching two different films. The conclusion to this time-travelling quest happens with not too threatening trouble from the bad guys.
Ryan Reynolds easily pulls off the character of Adam Reed, who’s sarcastic and has a lot of emotional burden on his chest. A character like this is a cakewalk for a talented actor like Reynolds. Child actor Walker Scobell leaves a great impression with his acting as young Adam. He matches Ryan’s goofiness and wit in every scene.
Mark Ruffalo is a delight to watch on screen, no matter which character he plays. As Loius Reed, he wins your attention. But I wish Levy had added more scenes of Mark Ruffalo, Jennifer Garner, and Zoe Saldana.
Netflix Film The Adam Project: Final Thoughts
Overall, The Adam Project is a story of love, loss and parenthood even though it’s presented as a sci-fi tale. Some good moments captivate your mind. But lengthy action sequences disconnect you from the story often. It’s a decent and one-time watch film.
The film will release on Netflix on March 11.
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