A huge chunk of the film's beginning revolves around the reveal of this breakthrough scientific procedure called "downsizing." Then it proceeds into how it effects the world. How it's affecting the economy, the importance of helping the planet, "normal sized" people having prejudicial thoughts about the "small sized," the places where people who took the "downsizing" procedure lives, etc. All of that was great.
Just the social political and cultural discussions about downsizing were highly interesting. The premise is just all so infinitely fascinating. Here's the thing though. All of that happened during the first two acts of the movie; when our characters were still "normal sized." Go figure, but those are the best parts of this story. Once the act of downsizing actually happens, that's where the premise starts showing the problematic cracks surrounding the logic behind this concept.
I think it doesn't help that this movie also kinda feels too self-important. Don't get me wrong, the main thematic messages that this story is trying to relay to us is admirable and laudable, but somehow it all falls a little flat. It might be because it's all just too heavy handed about the messaging. There are moments when it tries to lighten things up with a few jokes, or shows us some visually imaginative imagery, but in the end it still takes itself much too seriously. It's all still interesting sure, but it sure isn't as fun to watch as it probably should have been.
You know what also doesn't help? The characters. I simply didn't care that much about the characters. It's too bad, because it's got quite the all star cast too, with Matt Damon in the lead as Paul Safranek. It's hard to feel invested with what happens to these characters, if the movie doesn't give me a more compelling reason to care.
I'll give the movie this though. It still made me want to see how it all plays out, and how it ends. I can't exactly call it boring either. I suppose it deserves some credit for that achievement at least. It's all just too unfortunate, because I'm far more interested in discussing the idea about "downsizing," rather than watch this movie called "Downsizing."
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