NPR

'Life' Doesn't Quite Find A Way

In space, no one can hear you yawn: Technically impressive but dramatically airless, this monster flick set on the International Space Station is powered by "space-movie cliches old and new."
"The needs of the many ...": Astronauts Rory (Ryan Reynolds) and David (Jake Gyllenhaal) in <em>Life</em>.

"Space is disease and danger wrapped in darkness and silence," Chief Medical Officer Leonard "Bones" McCoy once lamented. And that was on Star Trek, far and away the most optimistic vision of humanity's spacefaring destiny ever presented onscreen.

Far more prevalent in movies is the sort of better-we-didn't pessimism peddled by a nasty in zero-G. It's with a hostile --and apparently intelligent — Martian jellyfish. Though the script is by scribes Rhett Reese & Paul Wernick, and merc-with-a-mouth Ryan Reynolds gets top billing, there's not much intentional humor.

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from NPR

NPR3 min readCrime & Violence
Sam Bankman-Fried Is About To Get Sentenced For His FTX Crimes. Here's What To Know
Prosecutors are asking for 40 to 50 years, citing the severity of Bankman-Fried's crimes. Lawyers of the disgraced former head of FTX are asking for far less.
NPR3 min readAmerican Government
Legal Experts Worry About Presidential Abuse Of The Insurrection Act. Here's Why
Experts say the Insurrection Act gives a president too much sweeping power to deploy troops on American soil without guard rails or proper oversight from Congress.
NPR6 min read
Next U.S. Census Will Have New Boxes For 'Middle Eastern Or North African,' 'Latino'
Biden officials approved proposals for the U.S. census and federal surveys to change how Latinos are asked about their race and ethnicity and to add a checkbox for "Middle Eastern or North African."

Related Books & Audiobooks