Though it has a strong sense of urgency and a backstory worth rooting for, Mother/Android is a bland Netflix Sci-Fi flick that takes influence from many before it yet doesn't have enough flair of its own.
Written by Becca Johnson
Set in a dystopian near future, Mother/Android tells the story of pregnant Georgia and her boyfriend Sam who must undertake a treacherous journey of escape, as their country is caught up in a war with artificial intelligence. With their child arriving in just a matter of days, they must cross No Man's Land – an android stronghold - to get to safety.
The scripts choice to focus on Georgia, played by Chloe Grace Moretz (Kick-Ass) and her boyfriend Sam, played by Algee Smith (The Hate U Give) gives us plenty of character development, yet it unfortunately means we don't get much exploration into the world itself. By focusing solely on two characters, the bigger picture is eliminated. Writer/Director Mattson Tomlin has created an apocalyptic world in which humans are at war with artificial intelligence and every journey is a fight for survival, meaning the focus on the drama of one young couple seems like a missed opportunity to provide thrills and intrigue.
Chloe Grace Moretz does her best to keep this movie afloat. She brings the narrative up a notch or two with her emotional and dedicated performance as Georgia. Algee Smith does his best with the material given yet its Moretz's movie, and she owns it. It could be one of her better performances to date, as her acting often fails to impress many. Raul Castillo (Army of the Dead) gets an ample amount to work with in his minor role as Arthur, a character who promises to help Georgia save Sam when he runs into trouble, yet unfortunately his character arc is very predictable.
Unfortunately, Mother/Android suffers from pacing issues. Clocking in at almost two hours, the movie feels too long for its story, packed with scenes that don't spur the plot forward or provide any development or entertainment. Many scenes feel as though they've been dragged out too long, crying out for tighter editing and more focus. With not enough character development and an obvious lack of action and thrills, Mother/Android doesn't quite reach great success in any of its attempted genres. It clearly takes inspiration from sci-fi greats including A Quiet Place and The Terminator but doesn't seem to understand what makes them work: deep character study, exploration into the world surrounding the lead characters and original ideas.
Mother/Android boasts a set of actors that are dedicated to their roles, with Chloe Grace Moretz providing all the emotion and gusto needed to make the movie watchable. It's story is easy to follow, the characters are worth rooting for and the visuals can often be pleasing. However, its lengthy run-time, mediocre writing and focus on the wrong elements of the storyline stop it from reaching true greatness. Some focused editing and more character and world development would've helped the movie feel more memorable, rather than just a Netflix Original worth watching on a rainy day.
STAR RATING
