Review of Downsizing (2017) by Max_Slat — 16 Oct 2017

Alexander Payne's new film begins with a simple yet intriguing science-fictional premise: if we have the technology, would you shrink yourself down to 5 inches tall? And what is your motivation to do so? What started off as a noble and scientific solution to save our planet is soon replaced by a more Americanized motive: so that one can afford a more luxurious lifestyle.

There is potential for satire and pathos here which this film doesn't mine fully. Great production details and star cameos make the first half of the film amusing and enjoyable enough, as we see Matt Damon's character's decision to miniaturize goes south but the script meanders flatly with too many ideas that seem to go nowhere.

It isn't until we meet Christoph Waltz's wild entrepreneur neighbour Dusan and Hong Chau's blunt but good-hearted Ngoc Lan then the film picks up some momentum and comes into focus. What then follows is part moral discussion on how we have doomed our planet and ourselves into extinction and part romantic drama.

The last act pushes its core theme into the realms of absurdity and even if the film is perfectly aware of it, it just isn't satirical enough nor is it dramatic enough to produce the impact it wants to have.

Instead, Payne's treatment is perhaps too subtle and polite and his film feels like a stretched out comedy sketch that has no idea how to wrap things up.