A Fun But Unremarkable Sci-Fi Action Thriller
Summary
I can understand why Mercy got a January release as it’s the kind of movie that you’ll enjoy once and I feel like it may end up forgotten after a few months. It was still a fun watch with Chris Pratt giving an emotional performance and there are some decent action scenes towards the end. Too much of it is him sitting in the chair watching things on screens but it still manages to engage.
Plot: In the near future, an advanced AI judge tells a captive detective that he’s on trial for the murder of his wife. If he fails to prove his innocence within 90 minutes, he’ll be executed on the spot.
Review: I was on my way to see Mercy a few weeks ago when it first came out, but the snow got so bad that we had to turn back; it’s been so bloody cold here that I just haven’t wanted to go anywhere until today.
Reviews have been mixed for this one and I can understand some complaints as it’s hardly amazing, but I still had a good time. It’s yet another movie about AI and how it could potentially be used in the future to punish people for crimes; it would be a good double bill with Minority Report.
Rebecca Ferguson plays the AI Judge who has to put Chris Pratt’s accused detective on trial for the murder of his wife. Pratt does a great job here as you’re wondering if he may have actually done it especially as things progress. Rebecca Ferguson is mostly okay, but I felt she showed a bit too much humanity at times for an AI although I know that was the point…
There are several twists to keep you guessing and it’s the last half hour where the action kicks in. For the first 30 minutes I was wondering if I’d even review this as it was mostly Pratt strapped to a chair. It still managed to be compelling and tense, so I wanted to see how it would end.
On the action front there is a spectacular chase at one point and we get a few explosions too with a fight at the climax.
Despite being more of a sci-fi thriller Mercy is well paced and is under two hours which is always a plus. The flying police vehicles were awesome and I do wish we got to see more of them in action rather than seeing so much of it through a computer screen.
Overall, Mercy is worth watching once due to an impressive performance from Pratt and an unpredictable story with some decent action in the final half hour. It doesn’t really say anything new but it’s the kind of disposable fun I love on a cold Saturday night.