‘Atlas’ movie review with Casey T. Allen

International star Jennifer Lopez (The Mother, 2023) embraces the role of a reluctant soldier in the science-fiction action film Atlas, which premiered on Netflix May 24th. And while Ms. Lopez gives it her all to fight for planet Earth, this film seems doomed for obscurity from the beginning.

Set in an ominous future, robots with artificial intelligence have risen up against their masters and killed much of the human race under the leadership of a handsome robot terrorist (Simu Liu, Barbie, 2023). Many years after this robot terrorist escaped Earth, a counter-terrorism analyst finds out where the terrorist is hiding beyond our solar system. So a team of anxious warriors fly in their spaceship to a dangerous planet to capture the bad guy without getting killed themselves.

This film truly goes all in with the sci-fi embellishments, filling the distant planet with a lightning storm, a tornado, a sinkhole, and a snowy glacier. But in order to survive, Jennifer Lopez’ stern logical character has to join forces with an artificial intelligence system inside a giant mechanical suit equipped with guns, bombs, and 10-foot-long metal limbs.

Atlas tries to be a treacherous fight for survival and a perceptive social commentary on the dangers of artificial intelligence. But it succeeds at neither because the writing is so vapid, uninteresting, and immature. (Did Jennifer Lopez know a number of the lines she was forced to say in this were horribly lame?) This film packs a wallop of irony being about the growing power of artificial intelligence (or AI), and while I watched it I thought, “Was this screenplay actually written by an AI program with zero oversight from a competent human?”

The screenplay is original with no previous source material, but it’s written with so little wisdom, care, thoughtfulness, and believability, I could only think of other sci-fi films that Atlas has shamelessly borrowed from. These other films include Pacific Rim (2013), After Earth (2013), Chappie (2015), and The Creator from last year. The moments of humor are so uninspired, I was predicting what people would say even before they spoke.

These moments go over the top to say, “Isn’t it funny how exasperating technology can be?” or “Isn’t it special when humans and technology can work in harmony together?” After the film’s ending, I’m thinking, “Won’t it be great when Jennifer Lopez finds a film written well enough to highlight her talents? It must be out there somewhere!”

Brad Peyton is the director of Atlas, and when I learned what other films he has directed (San Andreas from 2015 and Rampage from 2018) I thought, “Now it makes sense why he created such a banal film with grand special effects. It’s his thing!” Ms. Lopez swears a lot in Atlas especially for a PG-13 film, so that surprised me. And her hair looks so wild and has so much volume in this, yet it falls perfectly in every shot, making her look flawless. So at least this clunker has some glamour viewers can enjoy.

Related Posts

Henry Cavill Becomes the Next Terminator—Fan Art Reimagines Him as the Iconic T-800

Could Henry Cavill be the next Terminator? A mind-blowing new fan art piece has reimagined the Man of Steel actor as the legendary T-800, replacing Arnold Schwarzenegger in the role that made sci-fi history. And…

Amy Adams Calls Henry Cavill a ‘Brilliant Superman,’ Shares Thoughts on Rachel Brosnahan as the New Lois Lane

Superman fans have been through a rollercoaster of emotions over the last couple of years. From Henry Cavill’s shocking exit as the Man of Steel to James Gunn’s upcoming Superman: Legacy introducing a…

Erin Moriarty in ‘The Boys’ Suffered One of the Worst Metamorphoses in TV History – What Happened?

Few TV shows have managed to maintain their gritty, satirical edge as well as The Boys. With each season, the Amazon Prime hit has upped the stakes, delivering blood-soaked battles, shocking…

The Beauty of the ‘World’s Most Handsome Man’ – Henry Cavill in the 2000s

Henry Cavill has long been recognized as one of the most handsome men in Hollywood, but the early 2000s marked the beginning of his undeniable status as…

Pastor HUMILIATES Elon Musk in Church – You Won’t Believe What Happens Next!

Elon Musk is no stranger to controversy. The billionaire tech mogul has faced political backlash, corporate rivalries, and even legal battles—but nothing could have prepared him for what…

Elon Musk Reveals Tesla’s 2025 Motorhome for UNDER $17,000 – A Game-Changer for Road Trips!

Elon Musk has done it again! In a jaw-dropping announcement, Tesla has just revealed its first-ever electric motorhome—and the price is what’s sending shockwaves across the industry. At just under…