Old & Young Ryan Reynolds Capture Spielberg Magic

Old & Young Ryan Reynolds Capture Spielberg Magic

The Adam Project is a charming and fun sci-fi throwback, fueled by a strong script and one of Reynolds’ best performances.

After achieving success with last year’s Free Guy, director Shawn Levy and star Ryan Reynolds collaborated again on Netflix’s new sci-fi movie, The Adam Project. The two films are cut from a similar cloth, seemingly modeled after original, high-concept genre films prevalent in the 1980s (Back to the Future and E.T. were cited as Adam Project influences). Free Guy was a pleasant surprise, earning praise from critics and audiences, raising expectations for the duo’s next outing. Fortunately, this latest work delivers. The Adam Project is a charming and fun sci-fi throwback, fueled by a strong script and one of Reynolds’ best performances.

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Reynolds stars in The Adam Project as Adam Reed, a fighter pilot who time travels from the year 2050 and finds himself in the present day. There, he encounters his younger self (Walker Scobell), a 12-year-old kid grieving the death of his father, Louis (Mark Ruffalo) and making life even more difficult for his mourning mother, Ellie (Jennifer Garner). On a desperate mission to save the future, the older Adam enlists the help of his younger self to thwart Maya Sorian’s (Kathleen Turner) plans.

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Ryan Reynolds Mark Ruffalo and Walker Scobell in The Adam Project

Ryan Reynolds Mark Ruffalo and Walker Scobell in The Adam Project

The Adam Project mercifully doesn’t get bogged down in time travel mechanics, wasting little time to get the two Adams together on their journey. The rules the film follows will largely be familiar to anyone who’s seen similar titles The Adam Project draws inspiration from. Big Adam and Young Adam’s dynamic is a greater focus in the script and their relationship with their parents is the movie’s emotional core. Young Adam is a nuisance for Ellie, treating her poorly as she tries to keep her head above water. In contrast, Big Adam harbors strong animosity towards Louis. Conversations between the two Adams help them see things from a different perspective, fueling poignant and effective arcs. The sci-fi elements are an entertaining backdrop for a story that’s about something much more, allowing The Adam Project to pull at the heartstrings.

Reynolds is reliably embodying an onscreen persona audiences are familiar with, though he is given moments of emotional sincerity to help flesh the character out. In particular, his interactions with Ruffalo and Zoe Saldana (playing Big Adam’s wife, Laura) are quite moving, efficiently conveying pertinent information about the characters’ relationships to get audiences invested. Reynolds also has excellent chemistry with Scobell, a perfect choice to play a smart-mouthed, younger version of his character. The two play off of each other very well — whether the scene calls for dramatic beats or comedy (the script has some amusing meta jokes about Reynolds). Turner is oddly the weakest link in the supporting cast, though that has more to do with the writing than her performance. Maya comes across as a two-dimensional, power-hungry villain who is just an obstacle for the Adams to overcome.

Zoe Saldana and Ryan Reynolds in The Adam Project

Zoe Saldana and Ryan Reynolds in The Adam Project

In terms of sci-fi action, The Adam Project doesn’t reinvent the wheel (though there are some neat visuals and concepts). What makes it click is the strength of the characters and their personal stories, getting viewers invested in what’s happening onscreen. While the Adams’ personal journeys are great, there is a bit of a disconnect with the larger genre plot. Issues with the storytelling stem from telling rather than showing, especially as the terrible 2050s future Big Adam is trying to prevent is hardly shown. This negatively impacts the overall stakes a little bit, but isn’t enough to weigh the film down. As a time travel story and a narrative about coming to terms with loss, The Adam Project works well with its fast pace and fun moments.

Levy is developing more movies with Reynolds, and it’s safe to say the pair have a winning formula. The Adam Project should generate anticipation for whatever’s next — be it Free Guy 2 or another original title. It harkens back to the classic Amblin films (including E.T. and the Back to the Future trilogy)  and refreshingly isn’t occupied with setting up a franchise. The Adam Project is the kind of high-profile film that likely would have found success at the box office, so it’ll probably be a major hit for Netflix, giving the streamer an entertaining genre film with wide appeal. Those who enjoyed Levy and Reynolds’ earlier works will find something to latch onto here.

Next: Watch The Adam Project Trailer

The Adam Project will be available to stream on Netflix on March 11, 2022. It runs 106 minutes and is rated PG-13 for violence/action, language, and suggestive references.

Our Rating:

4 out of 5 (Excellent)

The Adam Project (2022)Release date: Mar 11, 2022

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Chris Agar
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Chris Agar is a news editor for Screen Rant, also writing features and movie reviews for the site as one of Screen Rant’s Rotten Tomatoes approved critics. He is a graduate of Wesley College’s Bachelor of Media Arts and Master of Sport Leadership programs. In 2013, Chris was hired to write weekly box office prediction posts in conjunction with the Screen Rant Underground podcast’s Box Office Battle game and his role expanded over the next few years. In addition to covering the latest news and hottest movie topics daily, Chris has attended numerous media events for Screen Rant, including San Diego Comic-Con, delivering content his readers care about. He credits Star Wars and Toy Story with launching a lifelong fascination with movies that led to his career, and now he has a wide range of cinematic tastes, enjoying the latest Hollywood blockbusters, Oscar contenders, and everything in between. Chris’ favorite film genres include sci-fi/fantasy, crime, action, and drama.

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