REVIEW: THE ADAM PROJECT

4/5

13 Going On 40.

106 Mins. Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Walker Scobell, Mark Ruffalo, Jennifer Garner, Catherine Keener & Zoe Saldaña. Director: Shawn Levy. 

Free Adam! Or should we say free the merc with the Mickey Mouse muzzled mouth? It's time to sharpen your katanas. Because after changing the intertwined movie and video game world last year. Coming out of quarantine for the interactive fun of the first-person 'Free Guy'. Fresh actor/director team Shawn Levy ('Real Steel' and the 'Nightmare At The Museum' series that's Smithsonian worthy family fun) and Vancity's own Ryan Reynolds (really? Do we really need to?!) are no noobs to this. They're about to team-up once more for the as yet untitled third 'Deadpool' movie (we're going to take a shot at, 'Deadpool 3') as Marvel's ball and fourth-wall breaking anti-hero takes his wonder years to the magic kingdom of Disneyland. But before all that in their own trilogy, Levy and Reynolds have a Netflix side-deal with 'The Adam Project'. As the 'Red Notice' blockbuster smartphone screen star goes to battle Disney +'s big red panda 'Turning Red' like Leo and that grizzly from 'The Revenant'. But don't worry the supe whose legs you can take off and he'll still survive (but what a regrowth, baby) doesn't get mawled. Not even by the critics. As this is a pure, blissful 80's nostalgia trip for you Goonies. What more could you expect from Levy whose done his fair share of directing in the 'Stranger Things' series that finally returns this Summer after the fourth of July weekend of 2019, that really feels as long back as the 1985 setting of the month I was born? 

Taking you 'Back To The Future' with 'Super 8' rich reverence for your directing cameras. The science-fiction blockbuster bluster is just window dressing to a love letter to fathers and sons like the one Cat Stevens sang about. One that will have you weeping at the knees with Deadpool and the Hulk, sad (think 'Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2') with more pop than "goes the weasal." But believe me the action is video game like amazing as Ryan and Shawn one-up even bringing a lightsaber to the 'Free Guy' party with a staff that Darth Maul would be proud of. This man split in two needs the love. We hear he was cut (again) from the 'Obi-Wan' series for more Mark Hamill age-defying time travelling, that also puts 'The Winter Soldier' of Sebastian Stan out of work (better start making hits again). It's truly awesome. Even if the halo like henchmen sent back to the past too may as well be drones in this warfare. Still, there's just so much more heart to this than all that in this time machine movie though. And 'Free Guy' was far from lacking humanity like a CPU...it's moral message and theme was all about that. Out in the torchlit woods and out of the forest of losing original star and top gun, Tom Cruise, this picture piloted by Reynolds truly soars. In part due to his wisecraking star power, but also because his boy wonder humor has met its match...in an actual 12 year old. Introducing, Walker Scobell. You'll see him everywhere soon like in the 'Secret Headquarters' of a Marvel spin-off starring Owen Wilson and our favourite Michael Pena. The real star of this show and one that meets Ryan wit for wit, mannerism for mannerism. It's a classic dynamic duo of a one-upmanship and boy-manship that is full of quotable one-liners. But more importantly, once more with feeling, real heart. And all that matters when it comes to both this boy and man, maturing and coming of age. 

Projects like cracking-wise are child's play for Reynolds. He could do this in his sleep. Does Adam like apples?! But how about this? Hunting for good will like an unrecognisable Matt Damon talking about toilet paper in 'Deadpool 2', Reynolds' soul takes us back to a time kids used to cover peoples houses with that s### for a prank (think of 'All The Right Moves', Cruise). Now they just send a tweet. There's a real "great Scott" scene in a tender bar moment with the absolutely amazing Jennifer Garner here that is beyond beautiful with its moving meaning. We won't say, or spoil anymore, but the only thing that will remain dry is the whiskey. And boy does Reynolds sell it. Just like an always heroic Zoe Saldaña does space exposition. From 'Guardians' to 'Avatar' and the final frontier of 'Star Trek'. She scene steals an amazing action scene here in a forest that chops down more people than the one in 'Shang-Chi'. All to a soundtrack playlist that James Gunn would love to make peace with. But again this all culminates in more stepped-up acting for Reynolds. The funny guy who is always underrated in that thesp department. Yet '13 Going On 30' and garnering a real reunion, just wait until our lead and his alter-ego meet Mark Ruffalo in this almost multi-verse of madness. Playing another scientist like Bruce Banner, moonlighting as a teacher in tweed. The Einstein do and rough and ready Ruffalo gives us his best since he was a slicked back cop who almost ran Tom Cruise and Jamie Foxx's 'Collateral' cab for all its fare. Plus he throws the funniest punch which is bound to be the new go to GIF by the time it lands. Add 'Being John Malkovich' and 'Get Out' star Catherine Keener really stirring things up as a super villain that is anything but stock and Netflix's latest project really makes the grade for us. We can't wait until Reynolds and Levy are set free with some samurai swords. When it comes to these guys partnering up. No one does it blockbuster better. Just try and give yourself a project in finding someone else to match up. Because you won't know them from Adam. TIM DAVID HARVEY. 

Further Filming: 'Free Guy', 'Big Game', 'Back To The Future'.