Review of Bright (2017) by Keith U — 01 Jan 2018

Before writing this review I encountered a post where the poster described the show as "They did not reinvent the wheel, they only made a really cool wheel." I think that perfectly describes this movie.

The movie has strong influences from movies like Alien Nation, Lethal Weapon, Dirty Harry, and Lord of the Rings. The story is very common place in that the protagonist (Daryl Ward/Will Smith and Nick Jakoby/Joel Edgerton) find themselves unintentionally in life threatening situations due to stumbling upon a world threatening plot.

The story takes place in an alternate dark universe where the creatures of legend (Orcs, Elves, Centaurs, Fairies) exist and have lived together for thousands of years. Now, in the 20th century, they face social issues that our world faces now. No, the story does not explain a great deal of the history of the races, other than the defeat of an evil warlord some 2000 years ago. The story does touches on social issues we face today. Unlike some newly released series and movies, Bright does not attempt to convince you that one side of the issue is right and that opinion should be accepted. Nor does it try to show you how right the idea is. Instead, Bright successfully shows you the issue and the impact it has to those around it, and leaves it up to you to decide if it is wrong or right. It does not attempt to preach, or make light of the issue, but it does strive to ensure the viewer sees both sides of the issue clearly.

Will Smith (Daryl Ward) delivers the same performance he did in Independence Day, Men in Black, Wild West, Bad Boys, I,Robot, Suicide Squad, and well I could continue, but I think you get the idea. It is Will Smith being Will Smith. Now, there were some scenes where Smith provided a strong dramatic performance, but then seemed to slip back into his tired old worn out Will Smith performance. Smith is a strong actor, but he seems afraid to stay outside his box too long, and retreats back to it for safety. It would have been nice to see him stay out of the Will Smith character, and focus on being Daryl Ward.

Joel Edgerton (Nick Jakoby) delivered a strong and constant performance over and over. In several scenes he upstaged Will Smith. Though Joel had makeup, he continuously delivered performance after performance that conveyed to you what Jakoby was thinking, feeling, and how he was reacting. His use of facial expressions, body language, and voice acting gave his character life. In many ways you found yourself connecting with Jakoby more than Ward. I found myself delighted in watching Edgerton deliver his lines and performance.

The other actors played their parts well, but to be honest there isn't much to talk about. They are there, and that is it. They walk on, say their lines, perform their action to move the story along, and little more. They did well.

Conclusion:

It is a fun watch. I felt the concept and the writing was brilliant. I also enjoyed seeing how mythical creatures are portrayed in a 20th century environment. This is a good watch. I wouldn't say this is a popcorn movie. In order to enjoy this movie I think the viewer must pay attention to the environment surrounding the action. Take the time to look at the Elf, the art on the walls, and how the Orcs interact with world around them. The magic of the movie isn't in Will Smith and Joel Edgerton, but in the world around them.