Review of Martian (2015) by Mike D — 24 Jul 2016

With somewhat of a renaissance in space-themed cinema of late, 'The Martian' is one of the most high-profile efforts to garner accolades from critics and audiences alike. While it is kind of a mixture of many different genres - from drama to comedy and action-adventure - 'Martian' is really all about its main star, Matt Damon.

At the outset of the film, we see how an unexpected incident on a planet that is millions of miles away can lead to a series of events that unites the entire globe. The majority of the film centers around the actions Damon's character (Mark Watney) takes to stay alive as the only living organism on Mars. While Earth scrambles to rescue him - not an easy feat, considering the distance - we get to see how Watney solves various problems and overcomes challenges ranging from growing crops on Mars to human error. There are plenty of things that happen over the course of the film that hold viewers' attention, and there is plenty of entertainment value delivered.

While 'Martian' is basically "The Matt Damon Show," the rest of the all-star cast delivers for the most part, as well. From Jessica Chastain as the commander of the NASA spacecraft Hermes to fellow NASA team members portrayed by Chiwetel Ejiofor and Sean Bean, there are plenty of good performances to go around (although it's odd seeing Kristen Wiig in a somewhat serious role). Still, none of them can compete with the screen time given to Damon. And while there are some scenes that make viewers say "Really?", all is pretty much forgiven considering it's Hollywood, after all. Perhaps 'Martian's biggest weakness is its bloated runtime, which could easily have been pared down.

Sure, 'The Martian' is a bit overrated. But the film is one of Ridley Scott's better efforts of late, and should be held in high regard when it comes to movies that take place beyond our planet.