The plot of a sci-fi thriller where everything is at stake has a certain irresistible charm, and Brad Peyton tries to recreate it in “Atlas.” Despite the basic premise of humans versus artificial intelligence, which was explored in many other movies, this film is still worth watching to see Jennifer Lopez in the lead role. Unfortunately, “Atlas” falls short of this promising vision, providing a creatively monotonous and structurally mediocre gameplay.
A Star at the Helm
Jennifer Lopez plays the role of Atlas, whose life is a journey of hating robots, and there is a deep-rooted reason behind it, as her mother was killed by an AI terrorist named Harlan in the past, portrayed by Simu Liu. But, Atlas's development from a traumatized man into a reluctant hero is the heart of the movie's plot, and even Lopez's charismatic presence fails to overcome the traces of the show business cliches dominating most science fiction films.
The Storyline: Familiar and Predictable
The story takes place in the future where people fight artificial intelligence terrorists, so Atlas is invited to find Harlan, who is causing trouble on an alien planet. The military calls on Atlas because of her intimate knowledge of Harlan, and this leads to a showdown that is blatant even to the casual viewer.
It is overburdened with sequences where Atlas, the protagonist, talks to her AI-controlled mech-suit, Smith. These segments, designed to meditate on the characters' feelings, come across as tedious self-therapy scenes rather than dynamic sci-fi drama.
Unremarkable Visuals and Action
Helmed by Brad Peyton, who directed “Rampage” and “San Andreas,” the “Atlas” under-delivers with bland representations of the extraterrestrial terrains peaking more like deserts and bioluminescent plants. The final scene, in which a large robot and Harlan fight on top of a car, simply merges with many other big battle scenes in the last SF blockbusters that primarily rely on green screen.
Some of the best actors that the American audience has to offer are cast in this film and yet, they are left underutilized because of the subpar writing that cannot complement their performances.
A Call for Innovation in Sci-Fi
One of the film's biggest problems is that it does not offer anything very inventive. An ordinary drawback of many AI-themed motion pictures, “Atlas” demonstrates a typical paradox of portraying AI both as evil and a tool, with the latter aspect dominating the present-day world. However, the movie also raises stereotyped and oversimplified anti-AI themes about the existence of AI self-awareness.
Final Thoughts
Thus, while “Atlas” seems to have all the makings of a great sci-fi movie centered around Jennifer Lopez's EDI character, it falls short of expectations. Its predictable storyline as well as plain graphics and fairly uninspiring fights make it less interesting. Even for those specifically interested in Lopez and science-fiction, Atlas may still be a film that warrants viewing, although people should not go in expecting it to revolutionize the genre.
Brad Peyton's “Atlas” debuts on Netflix, providing more of the same but less memorable experience of humanity clashing with artificial intelligence.