Luc Besson ventures again into space in search of good times.
Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets comes into the summer logjam with the highest of hopes. Based on a popular comic book, Luc Besson’s newest is sure to draw comparisons to The Fifth Element, his most successful work today. Unfortunately, it doesn’t live up.
That doesn’t mean Valerian is a waste of carefully crafted pixels. On the contrary. It’s a big budget movie that wows the eyes and will keep an audience rapt for its two-plus hours. The characters, the plot, the conflict: none of it’s a home run, but it’s all good enough to be good enough.
The eponymous lead (Dane DeHaan) is a galactic super cop of some kind, and his partner Laureline (Cara Delevingne) is also his love interest. No subtlety to be found here. If the conceit of having two California beach kids dropped into hyperspace sounds good, then this movie will be tops!
Luckily their awkward conversations transition into otherworldly action, complete with all the special effects one could want. Multivariant worlds, cool weapons, and odd aliens make for a joyous mix as Besson explores a wide-ranging universe.
There’s a mystery at the center of the plot, and while it’s competent, there’s no big twist to save the writing from being anything but that. There’s a Bad General (played by Clive Owen) who has committed what looks to be genocide of a people that would get along great with the aliens of Avatar. He’s guilty and of course won’t get away with it as this isn’t the sort of film to push those sorts of boundaries.
The bit parts are the best. Rihanna plays a shape-shifting stage performer, and Ethan Hawke is her charming pimp. The Defence Minister, constantly barking orders at Valerian and Laureline, is none other than Herbie Hancock. As odd as these may sound, they all work.
The story begins audaciously, using the history of the International Space Station as the origin story for the City of a Thousand Planets, a logical conclusion, given enough time and aliens. This sort of innovation is soon left behind for action and adventure.
Valerian isn’t going to make people forget The Fifth Element (or even Avatar, for that matter), but in the silly season of summer blockbusters, it serves its purpose. Get out of the heat, find a comfy seat in the theater, and sit back and watch Valerian and Laureline shoot, jump, and sass their way across the universe.
