Plot
Atlas Shepherd (Jennifer Lopez), a skilled data analyst, has spent her life tracking AI terrorist Harlan (Simu Liu). When she finally gets the chance to join Colonel Elias Banks (Sterling K. Brown) on a mission to capture him, she is prepared. However, their mission leads them to a hostile planet, leaving Atlas and her squad stranded.
To survive and escape, Atlas must use the very technology she despises. The film, however, spends too much time on Atlas adjusting to the alien environment and not enough on Harlan. Director Brad Peyton keeps Harlan a shadowy figure, offering only brief glimpses of his manifesto, which echoes Thanos-like ideologies.
Review
Screenwriters Aron Eli Coleite and Leo Sardarian dive into the Atlas universe, depicting a battle between AI and humans that has claimed many lives. Atlas harbors a deep grudge against Harlan, but the film omits important details about their history and Atlas’s mother, Val (Lana Parrilla).
The heavy reliance on computer-generated imagery makes much of the action feel unrealistic. Lopez is often confined to an ARC suit using the Smith computer program, limiting her performance. Sterling K. Brown’s role is too brief to be impactful, while Simu Liu’s Harlan is unsettling but lacks villainous presence. Lopez struggles to carry the lackluster narrative on her own.
Despite well-executed explosions and an intriguingly rendered GR-39, the film’s climax, featuring Harlan’s single glowing eye, feels reminiscent of the Terminator. Strong performances from the supporting cast, particularly Strong as the wise mentor and Brown as the tough guy, help bridge narrative gaps, but Lopez’s star power alone cannot salvage the story.
Ratings: 2/5
Atlas is visually uninspired, with a small cast and minimal AI presence. The film’s middle drags, while the beginning and end feel rushed. Most importantly, it lacks emotional depth, failing to ground the story about the dangers and significance of AI versus humans. Liu’s portrayal of Harlan exudes danger with style, but the sporadic humor falls flat. The film needs more complexity to fully engage viewers in its intricate world. Ultimately, Atlas is a two-star film, with Jennifer Lopez’s character forming a deep connection with a computer program, yet never fully immersing the audience in its elaborate universe.
