The Adam Project

Directed by Shawn Levy

★★★

The Adam Project - (L to R) Ryan Reynolds as Big Adam and Walker Scobell as Young Adam. Cr. Netflix © 2022

After last years surprisingly fun romp Free Guy, Shawn Levy and Ryan Reynolds are teaming up once again, this time for Netflix’s The Adam Project.

The movie follows a young Adam (played with an incredible amount of charm and wit by newcomer Walker Scobell) who, after the tragic loss of his father, encounters a future version of himself (Ryan Reynolds) who has traveled to the past to save the future. We’ve seen this type of film many times before, but Scobell’s and Reynold’s chemistry elevate the film from its sci-family obscurity. 

It’s also lovely to get a lowkey 13 Going in 30 reunion in the form of Adam’s parents played wonderfully by Jennifer Garner and Mark Ruffalo. Additionally, it’s easy to imagine Reynolds taking on this more family friendly role, considering he is settling into being a father, and he fits the mold very well without losing any of his signature improv and wit. 

The film finds Levy back in his comfort zone, heading up an uproariously fun family adventure, once again primarily focusing on father-son dynamics (a la Night at the Museum). While Free Guy may have been a better film, it’s hard not to appreciate his passion for family outings. Levy is a more than competent director, and it’s films like this where you truly get the feel for what he loves about movies, reminiscent of a modern day Spielberg. 

Overall the film is a good time, but not without its faults. Specifically, Catherine Keener’s de-aging is awfully rendered in sequences and the villain plot is a little ridiculous, as is a lot of the science behind everything. But if you are looking for a solid time for the entire family, you needn’t look any further than your couch this Friday night.