Synopsis:
Rim of the World is the name of a 2019 American sci-fi adventure film. The movie is directed by McG, and it was written by Zack Stentz. It tries to combine the idea of an alien invasion with coming-of-age elements. It tries to incorporate the 1980s escapade films like The Goonies, E.T., Stand By Me and attempt to blend modern-day action and special effects into the film.
In Rim of the World, a summer camp located in the Californian mountains, a group of 42 misfit teenagers gets sent to the Eponymous summer camp. Each of the main kid as the narrative suggests is an outsider in their own way. Alex, for one, is a socially anxious teen struggling to cope with his father’s death. Zhenzhen is cast as a stoic Chinese woman who has a tragic past but hardly speaks English. There is also Dariush, a brash face talking teen who happens to be a loner and uses humor and braggadocio as a defense mechanism. Finally, the cast includes Gabriel, a rider with a difficult past, who is silent but seems to have excellent survival skills.
Initially, the group struggles to come together due to fighting over their differences and personal problems. Their summer camp experience, as joyful as it is, gets interrupted by an alien invasion. While military bases are obliterated and civilization faces looming collapse, the camp changes into a desolate and unfriendly place. Because there are no adults or authority figures present, the children are left completely stranded and devoid of guidance.
The children come into possession of a key-like gadget through the attack. An astronaut gives them the device just before passing away. They soon discover that this device is essential for humanity. With no other hopes, the group agrees to a perilous journey to a military base in LA to activate the defense mechanism tailored to counter the alien invaders.
The entire Southern California region is an alien-infested wasteland. Along the way, the group must face an onslaught of alien monstrosities, demented military drones, and even hostile humans. Throughout the journey, the group faces numerous obstacles both physically, mentally and emotionally. Embracing the notion of working towards a common goal with others, overcoming personal struggles, and dealing with differing ideas, all become prerequisites for survival.
Each of the characters experiences an arc due to the exploits. Alex manages to overcome his crippling fears and becomes a wonderful leader. Dariush discovers that true loyalty and courage requires more than mere words. ZhenZhen learns to be vulnerable, beginning to build trust with everyone. Vulnerability enables Gabriel to help the group which allows him to find solace from the haunting memories of his past. In the end, the film emphasizes on the friendships formed and the bonds strengthened throughout the alien invasion, and the process of self rediscovery.
The climax shows the children trying to pull off an attack on the heavily guarded, and partially deserted, military base. They face the alien threat and must also figure out how to use the key to destroy the mothership to save humanity. The boys, as well as the girls, accomplished their primary goal, which, while also secondary to the goal, they came out as bonded stronger individuals. The film ends with the children staring out towards an unclear future, but with hope, as they emerge as united, instilled with courage and confidence.
Cast And Crew:
Gore Stars as Alex, the bashful but bright head of the cast. She captured the essence of a boy who, after conquering numerous intense fears, blossoms into a commanding figure.
Miha Cech was as ZhenZhen, the quiet but skilled and brave girl. Cech’s portrayal is powerful yet gentle as it shows virtually no depth.
Banjamin Flores Jr. Steps in as the role of Dariush, the thoughtless, back chatting class clown, who is actually very nice beneath the mask. Flores was mostly the life of the party and the funniest of the group, but surprisingly emotional.
Alessio Scalzotto plays Gabriel, the street teen runaway. He had to combine harshness and softness that will serve well for telling the emotion of the group.
The adult cast features Lynn Collins, King Bach (Andrew Bachelor) and Annabeth Gish. The parents’ focus is on their children, so the adults do not have much screen time.
McG is known for having a high-energy, visually flashy style, and like in other projects, here it also works to his benefit. He adds fast-paced action, explosive camera work, and a deafening tone characteristic of summer blockbusters.
Zack Stentz, who worked on Thor and X-Men: First Class, combines teenage drama with coming-of-age tales to create a fierce competition for teen drama-infused storylines heavy with teenage angst. Stentz was both embraced and criticized, many thought the writing was laden with cheesy tropes, but others reveled in the overwhelming rush of nostalgia from classic adventure stories.
With a rating of 5.2/10 on IMDb, Rim of the World has a middling mark which shows lack of public attention. Considered a ‘popcorn flick’, like most french-fries, viewers french-fried with joy. Critics, however, slammed the film for being shallow and devoid of creativity and meaningful depth.
Some enjoy the film for its youthful cast and their collective performance. The interplay and the emotional growth of the children is perhaps one of the most celebrated aspects of the film, with most people agreeing that it’s the crux of the subtle theme contrary to the alien invasion which makes the film enjoyable.
On the other hand, critics were divided on the film’s tone and its dialogue. Some of them argued that the humor and the dialogues were too mockish to their preference or juvenile, devoid of any sincerity in the few tender moments that were there. Besides, the plot is rather straightforward and the alien antagonists are rather bland and weak in the overall characterization. On that note, some of the additional provided special effects sequences, which was eye-catching for some, were considered to be more focused on glamour than substance.
In any case, Rim of the World does seem to have found a target audience especially younger children and families who want an uncomplicated sci-fi story edged with adventure and a coming of age tale. Its references to the classic 80s films offers some charm while the film maintains a positive demeanor throughout even with the apocalyptic backdrop.
Conclusion:
Rim of the World (2019) is a light-hearted sci-fi film that is both entertaining and nostalgic, as it pays homage to children-centered action flicks. While not ever dominating the film world or cementing its status as a genre-defining masterpiece, the movie expertly blends themes of friendship, adventure, self-discovery, and growing up in the face of an alien invasion.
The film reaches its peak in the development and interactions of the younger characters. Their journey from the fear and isolation to bravery and bonds is what drives the film. The alien threat is a crucial part of the narrative, but the strongest elements by far are the transitions tied to the themes of growing up.
Even with its shortcomings, Rim of the World is humor-filled and captivating as a sci-fi film. Its beaten heart shines through genre influences embraced with adventurous spirit. While offering no groundbreaking redefinitions, the film strikes a balance between sufficient action and character development that merits its title as contemporary family sci-fi, compatible with the Netflix generation.
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