What a letdown.

Honestly, I don’t know what I expected going into this movie. The premise is horrible… our sun is burning out and a team of astronauts fly to the sun with a Manhattan-sized bomb that’s supposed to re-light that big ball of fire.

Oddly though, the premise isn’t the problem. Filmmakers Danny Boyle and Alex Garland do an amazing of job of laying out the missions’ rules and limitations. Certain advances have been made that make it technologically possible for mankind to get fairly close to the dying sun. Suspension of disbelief is not the problem here. Also, the complications that arise through these new technologies are the most effective and interesting aspects of the film.  

In the end, it was the pacing and character motivations that killed Sunshine.

Perhaps they spent too much time addressing the believability of their mission? This movie trudges by even at the most exciting scenes… which can actually enhance some sci-fi films, but truly hurt this one. I felt like they were constantly trying to mimic the pace of 2001 or the original Solaris. If felt like a pale imitation in comparison to the aforementioned.

The cast seemed to be struggling a bit too. Maybe that was from the complete lack of character development. Especially that guy at the end… what the heck was his deal?

Cillian Murphy was competent and predictably likable, but his usual “everyman” presence was out of place. I never got the feeling he was a brilliant physicist or well-trained astronaut. He just seemed like some guy on a space ship. Because of that, it didn’t make any sense that everyone felt he was one of the most essential crew members unless you constantly reminded yourself of his position in the crew.

In the end, this movie completely fell apart… but it was troubled way before it derailed.

Rent or own: Neither unless you really, really liked Event Horizon and Contact.

What to watch instead: The Twilight Zone’s “The Midnight Sun.”