Will Smith's character's name in the just released film After Earth is Cypher Raige. I know, it is groan inducing. I would have gone with sourpuss (see photo above) or drone, since that is how he speaks throughout much of the film. Granted, he is injured, but that is no excuse for being annoying. Cypher is a high ranking official in the Ranger Corps (Ranger Smith, if you will) and a tough, yet loving father to young Kitai, portrayed by Smith's son Jaden, who takes over the lead role from his dad as the film moves along.
Set in 2025, After Earth centers around a mission to transport a dangerous beast to a location where it cannot harm others. As you might expect, trouble causes the ship to crash land and the predator escapes. It is up to the badly wounded Cypher to guide his inexperienced son around the planet, which happens to be an inhospitable and deserted Earth, where it is tough to breathe and even more difficult to survive the numerous dangerous species that now roam the planet. Kitai is literally on his own, as Cypher communicates with him from the wreckage of the vessel, while the youngster sets out to transmit a signal for help, which can only be done from a specific location.
Kitai's journey tests the young man and is like nothing he has ever experienced before. He wants to impress his father and successfully complete the mission, but he must battle large birds, a group of very angry apes, extreme weather, and the large predator that escaped when the ship crash landed. The beast is also responsible for the loss of someone close to Kitai and Cypher, which makes their eventual confrontation very emotional.
Director and co-writer M. Night Shyamalan has been looking for a hit for some time now and, sad to say, I doubt After Earth will have mass appeal. Yes, younger moviegoers will likely enjoy seeing Kitai perform impossible feats with little training or maturity, but I am not sure if older viewers will be as patient. Jaden Smith, like Kitai, still needs experience, but he tries hard and is physically impressive as the determined youngster. However, his sudden transformation during the final battle was a bit of a stretch.
Overall, the special effects are decent and the mood of the film is appropriately lonely and foreboding. In addition, After Earth managed to hold my attention during the action sequences on Earth, but I could not get past Will Smith's monotone delivery that is beyond irritating and could be heard while Kitai was moving about. In the past, M. Night Shyamalan has crafted some fine films, such as Signs and The Sixth Sense, and I suspect he will come up with another winner if he keeps trying, but After Earth is simply not one of his better efforts.
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