Jupiter Ascending wants to be a big space opera about destiny and royal blood, and it mostly fails. The movie spends its runtime trying to explain a convoluted plot involving royal lines, clones and a war across multiple galaxies, but the explanations never quite land.
Trailer, via Warner Bros..
A Plot That Never Clarifies
The story follows Jupiter, played by Mila Kunis, who lives as a maid on Earth until she learns she is actually a clone of a royal princess. Her discovery draws the attention of a powerful alien hunter named Caine, played by Channing Tatum, who tries to protect her from a villain played by Eddie Redmayne. The setup sounds promising, but the execution loses focus fast.
Kunis Carries What She Can
Kunis is the strongest element here. She grounds the sci-fi excess with a performance that reads as sincere rather than campy, even when the script asks her to fight impossible odds. Tatum gets less to do, mostly showing up to look handsome and throw punches. Redmayne is the worst of the trio, chewing scenery with a villain so over-the-top he tips the whole film into parody.
Wachowski Problems
The Wachowskis directed this, and their signature style is on full display: fast cuts, bright colors and a sense of spectacle that rarely connects to the characters it’s supposed to serve. That worked for The Matrix, but here it just feels like excess for its own sake. The pacing suffers too, with the middle act dragging while the ending rushes to wrap everything up.
Comparing the Leads
| Lead | Role | Strength | Weakness |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mila Kunis | Jupiter | Sincere, grounded | Little room to grow |
| Channing Tatum | Caine | Handsome, physical | Thin characterization |
| Eddie Redmayne | Villain | Over-the-top | Worst of the trio |
Key Numbers
- Runtime: 142 minutes
- Director: The Wachowskis
- Score: 4.0/10
- Main stars: Mila Kunis, Channing Tatum, Eddie Redmayne
Final Word
Jupiter Ascending is a mess, but not a fun one. The action sequences are hollow, the romance is thin, and the ending leaves more questions than answers. Kunis carries the film, but even she can’t save it from its own ambition. This is a movie that wanted to be a grand space epic and ended up a confused one.
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