Movie Review: Serenity

The best science fiction plays with compelling ideas that couldn't be explored in any other mode of fiction. Imagine a planet full of rose bushes that share a common mind - or a civilization that lives forever, and travels slowly between stars. Outlandish concepts, if paired successfully with good storytelling can be a innovative way to root around in some deep ideas about humanity and the universe. (See 2001 or Blade Runner.)

But the second best mode science fiction takes familiar concepts off the shelf - say, a renegade band of travelers on the run through space - and pairs this up with very capable storytelling and a good durable plot. If done well, this can be immensely satisfying, like a home-cooked dish of comfort food from a chef that knows their way around the kitchen.

Serenity is movie that meets that second standard with an appealing blend of pulpy sci-fi and western motifs. Swords, sixguns, starships, and attractive girls making roundhouse kicks - you've seen it all before. But director Joss Whedon knows how to put all of the components in motion with a compact storyline that hits all of the right beats - a moment of action, a moment of plot development, a wry bit of dialogue. Rinse and repeat. His TV experience is on display, with the Buffy and Angel TV series under his belt, and, of course, the short-lived Firefly on which Serenity is based.

The disappointments here are minimal. Serenity, like so many action movies, resolves the story with too many coulda-seen-it-coming coincidences in the final 30 minutes. And the dialogue, which serves up many zingers, sometimes takes the down-home Oklahoma patter a little too far. And in the mouth of Nathan Fillion, who plays primary rogue hero, words sometimes sound grunty and glib. I just can't always reckon what this space cowboy is saying.

The crass commercial question for Universal Pictures is - how wide is the audience appeal? Certainly they've nailed the otaku, who showed up at the premiere last night with comp tickets, ready to whoop at the action and hum along with the theme music. And I'm a convert too. I think Serenity deserves audiences - but I walked away from the theater wondering how Hollywood bungled it with Firefly. This is rollicking, great sci-fi of the pulp variety, with an ensemble cast and solid story underpinnings. It should be appointment TV viewing.

Update: Apparently everybody loved this movie. I clicked though reviews from other bloggers invited to the preview screenings across the country, and many of them were delirious. Also - I can't get a solid answer on whether or not a series could return to TV. There are those who claim it's contractually impossible.