Despite the struggles we’ve faced in 2020, Greenland reminds us that things could always be worse.
The film’s synopsis: A family fights for survival as a planet-killing comet races to Earth. John Garrity (Gerard Butler), his estranged wife Allison (Morena Baccarin), and young son Nathan make a perilous journey to their only hope for sanctuary. Amid terrifying news accounts of cities around the world being leveled by the comet’s fragments, the Garrity’s experience the best and worst in humanity while they battle the increasing panic and lawlessness surrounding them. As the countdown to global apocalypse approaches zero, their incredible trek culminates in a desperate and last-minute flight to a possible safe haven (STX Entertainment).
Greenland was directed by Ric Roman Waugh and written by Chris Sparling. It also stars Roger Dale Floyd, Scott Glenn, David Denman, and Hope Davis.
Greenland is now available as of today through VOD! It will then be released through HBO Max and Amazon Prime.
Spoilers Ahead!
Ok, I loved this film, it was exactly was I was looking for when it crossed my path. It was so stressful but I loved every minute of it. The film immediately sucks you into the lives of the Garrity family and you root for them to survive from the get-go. There was a constant sense that something could go wrong and when it did, it was unpredictable. This film kept me on my toes.
Gerard, Morena, and Roger all nailed that estranged family dynamic wherein a time of crisis, the love they have for each other breaks through their problems. All three gave solid performances. The way this family fought to stay together was inspiring. This family truly saw the best and worst in humanity through this fight.
The decision to focus the film only on the Garritys, I think was a good one. While I enjoy multiple storylines, it was refreshing to only have three characters to focus on and root for. Plus, I think it reflects how we, in this pandemic feel. Putting the focus on our own families during this time made this film relatable.
Again spoilers: I did feel that at the beginning, the Garritys getting onto the plane without trouble was too good to be true. I kind of saw the military rejecting Nathan because of his diabetes, but I did not see Nathan’s kidnapping coming! This was a shock but also a confusing moment. The couple Allison and Nathan meet on the road know he was rejected but they make the comment that maybe if he had a different family, things would’ve gone differently. So they kidnap him and take Allison’s bracelet! The bracelets indicate someone who was chosen to be saved. I get that they were desperate, but come on, they had to have known that the military wasn’t going to let that fly.
One surprise that wasn’t plot-related, was seeing Josh Mikel fight Gerard Butler’s John on top of a moving vehicle with a hammer. John was hitchhiking and found himself on a truck to Canada. The fight was intense and really showed how desperate these people are to get a bracelet to save themselves from the end of the world. It’s the same desperation shown with the couple, but Josh’s character chose violence over kidnapping. This fight scene was amazing and very well done! One of my favorite parts of the film.
While on the truck, John learns that there are extra planes in Canada that are headed to the classified military location so after reuniting with his family, they make their way to Greenland to wait out the comet.
The overall plot was thin but the story was character and emotionally driven which kept it balanced. There were some questionable moments but the intense sense of urgency made it easy to get back into the action.
Greenland was full of awesome explosions and tension and catastrophe and still had a happy ending for the Garritys. The amount of hope in this film is exactly what I think we all need right now.
