Red Rover

...I had to watch this. Talk about playing a different character. Liked her in The Expanse...loved her in Red Rover. It's one of those examples that whenever an actor is in a scene, the movie immediately becomes better.

As for Kristian Bruun who plays the male lead in this film, the buildup of his character was slow but I suppose that's how it had to be. I really enjoyed watching him progress throughout the movie in most scenes, but particularly with Gee.

The SciFi aspect of the film was essentially the back story, but it was always looming. Is there really going to be a mission to Mars? Does he really want to go? The movie kept my interest to the end. Even the credits where Cara Gee sings again. I like her style.

Fat whinger complains and has a tantrums all over the place. Overly verbal chick speaks random crap. He's too fat for space. He would never be chosen. They're both total losers. The movie is too undefined.

Damon (Kristian Bruun) is one of those people who appears to have little outward self worth, and so muddles through life seemingly aimlessly, without ever really achieving anything important. He's living in the basement of Beatrice's (Meghan Heffern) home, his ex girlfriend, while she has a new live in lover. After working hard he gets sacked by his boss, and then meets Phoebe (Cara Gee) who persuades him to apply for a position as an astronaut to go and start a colony on Mars.

So that's the plot, but what's is about? It's about self. Damon's self worth is low, but his self esteem is high. He proves this time and again through the film, although his self worth is lifted somewhat after meeting Phoebe. It's almost a paradox that you can have high self esteem, but that does not allow you self worth. But to watch that in practice is to see someone who thinks nothing is worth bothering about, nothing can be gained, and yet they keep trying anyway. It's almost like they're driven to prove themselves wrong.

The ending of the film proves this point perfectly. What will be good for him would be to pursue the option he has in front of him. But he is instead pursuing a hopeless entanglement because his self esteem allows him to believe that if he succeeds he will raise his self worth. Critical self analysis would prove this to be untrue, but he is stuck in a psychological quest that he can't get out of. Some people might call it 'eternal hope with no likelihood of success.' I've not seen another film that I can recall which looks into this topic, but this one succeeds easily and is a go to for me if you want to understand Freud's definition of ego and superego.

The cast is awesome. Great to see Cara Gee again, she can lend her skills to anything and sings like an angel. But every main cast member does a great job and the pace is great with little wasted time or words in the whole film. I particularly like the way Damon remains pretty much the same character throughout the entire film, underscored by the very end, yet Phoebe is a changeling as is Beatrice. A beautiful film, well worth a solid 8 from me.

Great performances by all, fun movie, well done. Gonna have to wait for next season of The Expanse for those dark eyes and Belter accent ...

Watched this specifically to see Cara Gee doing something besides "The Expanse." She's fantastic in that btw, and delightful in "Red Rover." It's a very different role from the stern, powerful commander of Medina Station, which demonstrates a good range. Her character here (Phoebe) starts off as the stereotype "manic pixie," but proves to have more depth than expected. I do feel a little more background on her character would've been welcome, though if I'm being honest, the same could be said of the main character as well. The plot is enjoyable, combining a touch of science fiction with magical realism, what with the very unlikely things that occur. Suspend your disbelief and watch it. Extra credit for casting another "Expanse" alumna: Anna Hopkins has a minor role as Maya.