Lucy (1/20/2015)

Rated R for strong violence, disturbing images and sexuality.

Starring Scarlett Johansson and Morgan Freeman

Directed by Luc Besson (The Professional, La Femme Nikita)

Scarlet Johansson and Morgan Freeman? How could it go wrong?

Sadly, it did. Lucy was comprised of strong performances and captivating visuals… that eventually missed their mark in a confusing and inexplicably odd storyline leaving viewers scratching their heads.

For those who are familiar with the director’s earlier works, Lucy is a mix between Luc Besson’s The Fifth Element and The Professional… maybe with a dash of Kubrick’s 2001 a Space Odyssey. Or, if you haven’t seen any of those films… Lucy was an acid trip!

When I saw the preview, I actually thought, “That looks lame.” But then I saw Luc Besson’s name. I’m a big fan of Luc Besson; he’s an amazing writer and director. Is he always spot on? Nope. But his films are always visually captivating and his writing is always creative.

Besson got his break with the film La Femme Nikita (not to be confused with the TV spinoff which emerged years later). The film was a monumental spy thriller. In fact, American filmmaker John Badfilm… uh… I’m sorry… John Badham made an American version of Nikita with Bridget Fonda titled, Point of No Return. (Which pales in comparison to La Femme Nikita.)

After gaining respect with Nikita, Besson went on to launch Natalie Portman’s career with the enthralling film about the everyday life of a hitman living in New York in, Leon’: The Professional. Amazing film, with memorable performances from Portman and Gary Oldman.

When Besson isn’t in the director’s chair, he’s writing films like 3 Days to Kill, Taken, The Transporter, and Arthur and the Invisibles.

Besson isn’t 100%. After all, he made films like The Fifth Element, and The Messenger, both a little bizarre. He’s an acquired taste… and that brings us back to Lucy.

Lucy is the story of a girl who gets caught in the middle of a drug deal (NOTE: I’m about to give you as much of a spoiler as the preview for the film does) and is eventually forced to carry a plastic pouch of “said” drug in her stomach for an evil drug runner. When the pouch breaks, the drugs alter her cell structure to where she can rapidly start using more than 10% of her brain. The result? Super Lucy. Or maybe Star Wars’ “Ben Kenobe” Lucy? I’m really not sure.

The film is hit and miss.

As always, Besson’s shots are amazing and the action is engrossing. His storytelling is intriguing, but his morality is questionable. Bad guys are always despicable, and his good guys aren’t always good. In the case of Lucy, I had a hard time liking her as a protagonist. She lacked character. In fact, the only reason I liked her was because she was Scarlet Johansson.

My vote is “Skip It.”

SHOULD KIDS SEE IT?
Definitely not for young kids, and I’d use discretion showing it to teens. The violence is over the top, and the main character shoots people at random. The film includes one scene where it shows animals breeding in nature, and then a distant shot of two humans having sex in a car (no nudity). Lucy also acts provocatively in one scene.

CONVERSATION STARTER:
Again, I don’t recommend this one for young people, but if a young person saw it, you might ask the following questions:

1. What is your favorite action film? Why?


2. How did “Lucy” rank on that scale?


3. The film opened with the phrase, “Life was given to us a billion years ago. What have we done with it?” What point was the film trying to make?


4. The film concluded with the line, “Life was given to us a billion years ago. Now you know what to do with it.” What was the film’s conclusion?


5. The film discussed “purpose” throughout. Some try to gain more time, others try to pass on knowledge. What do you think is our purpose here on earth?


6. How can we do that?

Read Micah 6:8

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.? And what does the Lord require of you?? To act justly and to love mercy? and to walk humbly with your God.


7. What does the Lord require of us?


8. What does it mean to act justly? How can you do that this week?


9. What does it mean to love mercy? What does that look like in our world?


10. What does it mean to walk humbly with your God? How can you do that?