Lucy Film Review

I wasn't quite sure how to feel whilst watching a Korean man knee-slide down a hallway as he fired a Bazooka: scared, confused, patronised and maybe even a little bit violated. Watching Lucy was a complex experience to say the least.

Note: This review is spoiler-free.

Lucy is a science-fiction action film from the director Luc Besson, best known for the more down-to-earth Taken films (which if anymore sequels are made should probably be known as 'Returned' by about now). It stars Black Widow Scarlett Johansson as the titular Lucy, a woman bestowed with accelerated evolution after her stint as a drug mule goes awry. As the film went on, I wished she had stayed as a drugs mule and not as a symbol for brain power recruitment initiatives.

After viewing a trailer I was interested by the premise. Yes, the overused line of 'humans only use 10% of their brains' was the key theme (which I know is a false fact as we use pretty much 100% of our grey matter), but it looked like a solid action film. Also, one with a strong female lead. Unfortunately, this pseudo-science theme was expelled horrendously and in a way that defied its own logic. I will state that it is fine playing with our concept of science in fiction, but a writer should know their story's science on a level that stays consistent.


The beginning gave me hope; the opening scene where Johansson becomes a drugs mule against her will is intense. It set up a great conflict/revenge plotline. Yet, from this promising idea, I was whisked away to Morgan Freeman delivering a lecture on the possibilities of expanding the human brain capacity. At this point the film took a nose-dive.

The lecture was, in my opinion, a heavy-handed way of explaining the film's premise, and outlined where the story would go. How fortunate to give the audience the different brain capacities one might go through in a particular set of circumstances where their mind evolved (a plant and payoff trope if I have ever seen one). Luckier still that the main character passed through these stages before reaching the theoretical 100%.

Acting wise, I would like to applaud Johansson for her performance in this film. Her character evolves into an emotionless being, and as such Johansson had a difficult task ahead. Playing a character with complex emotions can result in two outcomes: a) the actor/actress takes this as an excuse to phone it in and the complex character becomes monotone, or b) despite playing it in a monotone voice the actor/actress delivers a multi-layered character regardless. Johansson manages point b and Lucy actually becomes a fully-fleshed person despite her bland personality.

On the other hand, I was rather unimpressed with Freeman who seemed to play his usual type of character. He said things slowly whilst sounding sincere, so that everything he said sounded meaningful. Unfortunately for him, what he said wasn't too meaningful. I think it could have been swapped for his narration in March of the Penguins, and his character would have been just as useful. The issue I had with his character was his point within the plot. As Lucy became godlike, I began to question why she would need his help. After all, she had already read all of his research.

The Simpsons can get away with it, because its The Simpsons.
Enough said.

Lastly, Amir Waked delivers a rather out of place character that serves as a perpetually confused witness to Lucy's actions. Once again I don't understand why Lucy needs him, the reason given is a reminder of humanity. But as she is a being above emotion and of heightened brain function, I don't really buy this. Instead, I believe he is the remnants of a romantic side story which was forgotten.

Lucy has a interesting idea for an action film, a traditional approach for a revenge flick, but with a female lead and super powers thrown in. Unfortunately, the film misunderstood its own logic and went over the top. I would say it jumped the shark, but even that wouldn't cover fist-bumping the first monkey to evolve. This monkey is also named Lucy, I see what you did there film!


Film poster from Allocine, Simpsons image from TVTropes.