Greenland – A Personal Disaster Flick

Every few years, we are treated to another giant, cataclysmic disaster movie that threatens life as we know it with varying results. Next up is Greenland, directed by Ric Roman Waugh.

Greenland saw pieces of the Comet known as “Clarke” come hurtling towards Earth. For one family it’s the fight of their lives, while also one last chance to become whole again, as we see them being pushed to their very limits and deciding that there is never anything more important than family. The Garrity family are like any typical American family. John (Butler) was a structural engineer hand-picked by the government to take shelter alongside his family, including his wife Allison (Baccarin) and their son Nathan (Floyd). Once word starts to spread that Clarke isn’t just going to be some pretty light show, things escalate quickly for them and they realize they are about to be in the fight of their lives.

Tension and confusion among those not being chosen to be taken away and cared for and that is one of the recurring themes of the film as jealously and hatred erupted towards the Garrity family despite having no control themselves over the process. Suffice it to say that their journey towards said shelter was not an easy one as a series of obstacles were consistently placed in their path. That struggle was real as it clearly wasn’t going to be some cozy one-way ride to safety and they would faced with a perilous journey. Compared to other disaster films like Day After Tomorrow or 2012, Greenland definitely has the carnage is here but this film is more of a personal story than just some big-budget disaster flick.

Greenland was more about one’s ability to find their moral compass and trying to find the good in people when it seems like all hope is lost. In times of chaos, one can only reply on their families and whomever they care most for. That chaos at times was just downright scary as the situation went from bad to worse and watching this amidst the destruction was so compelling to watch.

The family dynamic worked was a strong point while watching Butler do his thing as a pissed off Dad who will stop at nothing until he finds his family. Butler’s great chemistry with Baccarin as Allison helps propel the film forward. In films like these, viewers need characters to root for, while trying not to be bogged down by too many forgettable ones. The film is a tight ship that mainly focuses on the Garrity family where it creates a deeper emotional connection with them were viewers root for them and their success.

In the end, Greenland is an above-average disaster flick that viewers can find on Amazon Prime to check-in or just check-out as they please. All in all, a passable watch at best.

still courtesy of STX Films

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Wannabe Movie Critic