You know, sometimes you stumble upon a movie that feels less like a story and more like a checklist of tropes. That's kind of the vibe I got diving into Netflix's "Rim of the World." It's a 2019 adventure flick that aims for that fun, kid-friendly sci-fi chaos, but honestly, it feels like it’s teaching a very basic, almost cynical lesson on how not to make a captivating film.
The whole thing kicks off at a summer camp in California, a place that sounds idyllic until, well, aliens show up. We meet a few archetypes: Alex, the nervous kid who’s clearly out of his element; Dariush, the wisecracking, motor-mouthed heir-in-training; and ZhenZhen, who communicates more with her actions than words. Then there's Gabriel, played by Alessio Scalzotto, whose backstory is hinted at but not fully fleshed out until later. The script seems to suggest these kids will grow beyond their initial impressions, but it feels like a standard, almost obligatory, moment of bonding before the real action starts.
And the action? It’s a sudden, jarring shift from campground comedy to a full-blown alien invasion. Think UFOs zapping fighter jets with glowing goo, and a crashed astronaut who, in classic movie fashion, entrusts a crucial key to these four unsuspecting campers. Their mission? Get that key to a lab in Pasadena. Suddenly, California becomes their apocalyptic playground, and the movie settles into a predictable path of saving the world, with humor and scares that are, frankly, pretty obvious.
What’s a bit disappointing is that the film doesn't quite feel like the filmmakers were genuinely excited to be there. It’s more like they were trying to entertain themselves, and the audience is just along for the ride. You see it in the cinematography, which jumps between wildly different color palettes, or in these elaborate, almost showy, single-take shots that don't necessarily add much to the story. It’s a far cry from something like McG's earlier "The Babysitter," which, despite being R-rated, had a palpable human energy. "Rim of the World," on the other hand, feels a bit like it was churned out by a content machine.
The dialogue tries to inject humor through movie references, and while Dariush mentioning "Grizzly Man" might get a chuckle, most of the other name-drops just blend into the background. What's more concerning is how the film sometimes leans on ethnic identifiers for humor, particularly with Dariush and ZhenZhen, which feels a bit tired and, frankly, not great. It’s a shame because these characters could have been so much more.
Ultimately, "Rim of the World" doesn't quite deliver that standout, escapist fun you might hope for. It quotes movies, yes, visually and verbally, but it never quite captures the magic. The war-torn Los Angeles looks more like a studio backlot than a devastated city, and the sci-fi sequences feel a bit uninspired. It’s unlikely to spark a sense of wonder about the stars or encourage kids to create their own adventures. It might even struggle to keep them awake during a sleepover.
