Ad Astra: Beautifully Boring

Rating: 5.2/10

Ad Astra is wonderfully done and introduces interesting questions about familial obligations, but the plot is slow and lacks depth.

Highlights: 

• Beautifully made

• Brad Pitt (duh)

• Futuristic, but not unrealistically so

Lowlights: 

• Not particularly engrossing

• Hard to follow

• Why the baboons??

Ad Astra could have been stellar, but it lacked intensity and failed to cultivate audience interest. Though the cinematography is wonderful, the film dragged and I frequently found myself marveling at how much time was left (even though it was only two hours). I enjoyed the incorporation of Roy McBride (Brad Pitt)'s inner voice and the added depth, but we still don't get to know him as a character and his narrative ends up simply muddying the plot. However, the tensions tugging between McBride and his father prompt further discussion about familial obligations. When do you give up on family? What, if anything, do you owe them? With further development between the relationships in the movie, Ad Astra would have been completely captivating, but ultimately it fell short.

Did you watch the movie? Do you want more? Check out The Wrap's article "9 Movies About Sad People in Space" by Brian Welk. If you enjoyed Ad Astra, you'll probably also enjoy the movies on this list.

Check out the trailer!