Reviewed by Victor Rebikoff.
Director: Luc Besson, Universal Pictures International, MA, 90 Minutes.
Scarlett Johansson who stars as the Black Widow in Marvel’s superhero movies – ‘The Avengers’ – is absolutely scintillating in this sci-fi semi-superhero fantasy from famous French director Luc Besson whose 1997 film ‘The Fifth Element’ is now considered a sci-fi classic.
The movie opens outside a hotel where an innocent Lucy (Johansson) is pressured by boyfriend Richard to take a certain case to a Mr Jang (Min-Sik Choi – ‘The Mayor’) a deadly drug lord in Taiwan.
After having a new and powerful drug stitched into her stomach Lucy is sent (with others) as a drug mule to Paris where some of the drugs accidentally secrete into her body transforming her into a fearful force.
At the same time movie lovers are introduced to Professor Norman (Morgan Freeman – ‘Dark Knight’) whose lecture focuses on his theory of human beings expending only 10 per cent of their brain capacity – but if increased would expand their powers immeasurably.
Following Lucy’s meeting with Norman she soon learns of the extent of her powers, especially her ability to control humans and objects.
With the assistance of French Inspector Del Rio (Amr Waked –‘Salmon Fishing in the Yemen’), Lucy is determined to retrieve the blue substance drugs from the other drug mules as well as stopping Jang and his dangerous drug ring.
Besson has bettered his storytelling credentials through his well-scripted sci-fi story, using some suitable symbolic scenes throughout his entertaining film including some visually impressive special effects to illustrate the transformation of Lucy into a super intelligent being.
What is most enjoyable about ‘Lucy’ is the strong performance from Johansson as the changed superhero including the scientific hypotheticals presented by the legendary Freeman in a further display of his extensive movie credentials; this is clearly demonstrated by him showing the effects on the human brain for each 10 per cent increase of the brain capacity until it reaches the 100 per cent.
Although the fictional story doesn’t match the facts, Besson’s movie is a thought-provoking fantasy that is lots of fun not to mention the pleasure in watching Scarlett scuttle her enemies in many exciting action scenes.
Vic’s Verdict: 4 Stars
Lucy is to be televised on Foxtel Movies Action at 5.20pm on Friday 19 November.
