Jupiter Ascending

A relentlessly visual epic, the Wachowski's latest sci-fi opus "Jupiter Ascending" is everything you expect from the wunderkind duo, but just misses the mark of greatness.

Part "Guardians of the Galaxy," "Star Wars" and "Flash Gordon" (the 1980 version), the story of a maid who is foretold to be "the one" shares similarities with the Wachowski's "Matrix" trilogy and borrows heavily from the futuristic sequences from their work in "Cloud Atlas."

Despite this mish-mash of borrowings, the trippy joy here is that they have given audiences an original story that manages to wow and entertain without having been based on preexisting popular material. That in itself is a feat. Getting us to care about a down-on-her-luck maid and a half man/half wolf bounty hunter is another. But they manage it.

The film opens with a voice-over by Jupiter Jones (Mila Kunis) who gives us the backstory on her star-gazing Russian father (James D'Arcy) and more grounded mother (Maria Doyle Kennedy). When her father is murdered, her mother escapes to the sea where she gives birth to Jupiter -- named after the biggest and most beautiful of the planets in our solar system.

She grows up into the family business of cleaning the houses of the rich and pretty much hates her life. But little does she know three siblings from the Abrasax family have their sights set on her. The unusual part of this, of course, is that the Abrasax are not from Earth; but they have plans for it -- and it doesn't bode well for those that live here.

When Jupiter goes to a doctor's office for a procedure, she is sentenced to be killed by the doctors and nurses who happen to be Keeper aliens in disguise. But at the last moment she is saved by a bounty hunter named Caine (Channing Tatum), a spliced-together hybrid of man and wolf. He takes to protecting her and forever giving her the history of the Earth, the Universe and her singular place within it. Basically, she's the Queen reincarnated; and, technically, she owns Earth. But one galactic family isn't too thrilled about this.

It's as nutty as it sounds, but the Wachowski's know this and give the film enough winky-ness that you know they are in on the crazy fun. And fun it is. Visually stunning from beginning to end, "Jupiter Ascending" is everything the Wachowskis do best.

One might argue that the plot is a needlessly complicated (it is) and one might also be able to predict how most of the big sequences will be resolved (numerous last minute rescues). In fact, some of it is so paint-by-numbers even the last second of the film was predictable. There is also the fact that a number of plot points happen twice, giving the film itself a bit of d�j� vu.

Character-wise, Jupiter is somewhat of a standard damsel in distress, and only reacts to the dilemmas thrown her way. She is forever being rescued and only in one big action sequence do we see her take charge -- and then she's still saved at the last minute.

Regardless, there is a visceral excitement to what the Wachowski's have created, and if "Jupiter" becomes a franchise, the story could have lasting potential. Tatum is fun here as the troubled hero with a past. Think Han Solo and Chewbacca rolled into one. Kunis proves she can handle the big screen once again, and this time in the biggest film she's ever been in.

Sometimes ex-TV actors seem to be swallowed up by the epics they find themselves a part of, but Kunis holds her own and makes even the silliest moments go down easy. Part of this is a deprecating style to her performance that brings the unbelieving audience with her as if to say, "I know this is all completely ridiculous, but just go with it."

Even in the ridiculousness though, the Wachowski's have cleverly thought out their mythology, even including our own alien folklore into the story by working alien abductions and the infamous "Greys" -- the classic aliens with the big eyes and grey skin -- into the mix. They even throw in an explanation for crop circles.

The villains of the piece -- the Abrasax siblings -- are a sort of vampirish trio led by Eddie Redmayne as Balem. He gives a performance that is almost completely whispered, so much so that his dialogue is nearly indecipherable. Occasionally, he lashes out, making his the most scenery-chewing performance of the year so far. Douglas Booth as his brother Titus fares better, even though the villain roles all appear fairly one-note.

But aside from all that, the special effects work is the star here. Visually, the film is so stunning it's almost on overdrive, but you can't deny the thrill of a space battle over Chicago or a race to escape a space station falling apart. With Caine zipping around with flying boots and Jupiter holding on for dear life, there haven't been action scenes this fun for a while. Some may feel like the production design and costumes are over-the-top, but who are we to say what alien worlds and spacecraft look like? All I know is it was beautiful, sometimes garish, but always eye-boggling.

The basic themes of the film might feel familiar, but it is one hell of an entertaining ride. As for me, I'm on board for wherever Ms. Jones and Caine may be headed. Jupiter ascends, indeed.