Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets *** (2017, Dane DeHaan, Cara Delevingne, Clive Owen) – Movie Review

There’s no doubt about it, Luc Besson’s sci-fi movie, based on Pierre Christin and Jean-Claude Mézières’s comic book series Valerian and Laureline, is one heck of a great-looking film, totally visually awesome with its amazing sets, costumes, make-up and CGI. This eye-popper is all just lovely, just stunning, really incredibly exciting to look at, even through the jaded eyes of folk who have seen too many sci-fi movies.

However, as with almost all comic book movies, the story, such as it is, is a frail fragment of a thing, and a total letdown in the interesting but rambling and unfocused screenplay by Besson. It doesn’t seem to make a lot of sense, but then maybe it requires a lot of attention when the best reaction is just to sit there, lie back and let it all wash over you.

With Dane DeHaan and Cara Delevingne both cute and appealing as Major Valerian and Sergeant Laureline, game for it all, Besson’s movie is pleasantly watchable, good easy-viewing. But it should be so much more. There we go with the ‘should bes’!

Take it for what it is, though, a disposable popcorn flick, and it’s a fun night out. Valerian is surprisingly campy and kitsch. It is post-modern sophisticated, so clever it’s quite dumb. And of course somehow it is a very French take of comic book sci-fi, which does make a nice change from all the American product.

Whereas the two stars are easy and at ease, and luckily the film is almost all about them, Clive Owen as Commander Arun Filitt, Rihanna as Bubble, Ethan Hawke as Jolly the Pimp (not very jolly), Herbie Hancock as the Defence Minister, Kris Wu as Sergeant Neza and Sam Spruell as General Okto-Bar are all struggling. They are trying to give a bit too much in just slightly off-key performances. Nothing bad, but nothing good either. If Owen is not seen at his best, Hawke is really a bit embarrassing, though it’s not much more than a daffy cameo. It misses being funny by miles, but then Hawke is not really a funny man.

Those looking forward to seeing Rutger Hauer again will be sorely disappointed at his blink and you’ll miss it appearance as the President of the World State Federation.

© Derek Winnert 2017 Movie Review

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com