The Adam Project fills the big shoes of the films that inspired it

For teens in the early 1980s the only time-travel  jam that was worth your time was The Final Countdown. Years before Europe made it the title to one of the best songs ever, it was a head-bending, what-would-you-do, escape onboard a wayward American aircraft that traveled from modern day times to just before Japan bombed Pearl Harbor. Similar to The Black Hole, that film put an indelible mark somewhere and somehow into my movie-going psyche. The Adam Project has that same vibe, but it’s a movie that is sharper, more contemporary and much faster paced than its time travelling contemporaries. It’s also on Netflix, which is a fact that might add to people’s enjoyment of the film.

The Adam Project has a lot going for it and does not take itself seriously. It’s a vehicle that aims to entertain the entire family and easily succeeds. This is one of those films that certain viewers will have on repeat for weeks and never get tired of for several reasons.

Ryan Reynolds is the adult version of Adam. Mark Ruffalo is Adam’s dad, portrayed in the film as he was when Adam is an early teen. The trailer for the film easily hooks in ages 10 and up due to its action and humor. Older movie goers will also appreciate the charm that the movie exudes. It’s loaded with heart and makes those same ages smile in ways that they might not be expecting.

What if The Final Countdown, The Terminator, Real Steel, Big, Looper, 13 Going on 30, The Last Star Fighter, and Back to the Future had a baby-and it was awesome? #TheAdamProject

— Daddy Mojo (@Daddymojo) March 1, 2022

A large part of that is due to Ryan Reynolds. His laisse-faire, smarm is fun to watch, but audiences have come to expect that aspect of his character. In The Adam Project, Reynolds still has moments of that, but the main aspect of his performance is human, real or action-oriented. It’s refreshing to see him act in a non-smarmy way and audiences will enjoy those moments more than the ones that they’ve come to expect in his performances lately.

The action in The Adam Project starts quickly with Reynold’s spaceship crash landing on Earth to the home of his 12-year-old self. He’s being chased by someone who is looking for something, battles ensue and time travel happens. That’s the over-simplified plot because it’s a genuinely fun film that does throw a couple of curve balls your way.

Older audiences will wish that there was more of Adam’s mom, played by Jennifer Garner. The relationship between her and Adam, that’s complicated by the death of her husband (played by Ruffalo), is real and will even give teens a moment to pause and think about how they treat their parents.  

Upper elementary viewers and up will love the concept of time travel and the numerous action sequences. They’ll envision themselves as a spaceship driving, time traveler from the future and wish that they could visit themselves in the past. Reynold’s witty dialogue and clever one-liners will also help them enjoy the film.

There are a couple of instances of adult language that those under ten might not want to repeat, but it’s no worse than one of the ‘classic’ films they’ve seen from Spielberg. The Adam Project’s director, Shawn Levy has a way, a certain stamp that make the projects that he’s involved with, his own. From Real Steel, Night at the Museum, Free Guy, Stranger Things and more his projects are fun and well crafted. They combine the elements that go into entertainment in such a way that they may not be your favorite movie, but you’re all but guaranteed to have several of them in your top-10 list.

Interestingly enough, the more time from viewing The Adam Project, the better it gets. That’s the opposite feeling that I had after viewing Free Guy. That film I was quite excited about seeing and did like watching it, but felt like too much, even while viewing it. Contrasted to that, The Adam Project is more restrained, surprising and much better paced. It’s a case of less is more, and in this case much more, with enough substance to back up the movie’s enjoyment for a long time.

The Adam Project can be seen on Netflix and is rated PG-13 for action sequences and mild language.