An apocalyptic sequel with more formulas than hope.
“Greenland 2: Migration” is the sequel to the 2020 action hit regarding a family man being randomly selected to join a bunker in Greenland when an asteroid makes impact on Earth. Most of our planet has been obliterated, but there are some places that might have a fighting chance at providing sanctuary.
It’s always nice to know that humanity can thrive after an apocalyptic event, and there are some impressive special effects and action sequences to keep movie goers at bay. But it all feels so routine, and relies on too many formulas and not enough time to get to know some of the new characters. If it’s a sequel that takes place after the end of the world, then there should be some survivors who can share their views of what has happened and how they want to move forward with what’s left of Earth. There are some who do, but either they’re killed off too early or they can’t join the main family. At least, one person is able to near the end.
Gerard Butler reprises his role as the engineer and family man John Garrity, as well as Morena Baccarin as his wife Allison, and now, Roman Griffin Davis replaces Roger Dale Floyd as his diabetic son Nathan. Ever since their time in the bunker, people are beginning to stress out about being cooped up in there, resources may be running out, and nobody knows how long this bunker can hold. In the meantime, John goes outside with a suit and mask in a radiated environment for some supplies and whatever he can find. And his son might be entering the rebellion stage when he pops outside for a few minutes. As Allison says: “He’s just like his father.” What son wouldn’t be?
Clarke was the name of the comet that destroyed Earth, but it’s conceivable that since life began anew after the dinosaurs were destroyed, then maybe it can happen again, but in a different place. The best bet would be in Europe, especially when it has been avoiding the radiation storms. So, that’s where John must relocate his family to at this point.
Directed once again by Ric Roman Waugh, “Greenland 2: Migration” should be as entertaining as it suggests. We have people getting out of the damaged bunker and struggling to get on the lifeboats that are left on the beach. And there’s also another when the family is lucky enough to make it across two sets of makeshift bridges-one made of rope and the other made from ladders. And of course, everyone else has to fall off.
Those scenes are fun, but the sequel suffers from too many formulas. There has to be side effects to being outside in the radioactive air even with the suits on. We don’t get much out of the son, who mostly observes his surroundings, but he does share his passion for the constellation. Before and after Clarke and the other space rocks set things in motion.
Butler does some good work and he’s an actor who mostly specializes in the action genre, but he needs a little more character development. We have so many action sequences involving gunmen and marauders, that there’s barely enough time to take a breather. And when we do, they last about 5-10 min.
I guess that if Spider can now breathe Pandora’s air in “Avatar: Fire and Ash,” then maybe John and his family can dodge the hostile environment of what used to be Europe. Or what’s left of Europe to be exact. “Greenland 2: Migration” is serviceable, but not really worth rushing to the theaters to see.
