Greenland is a 2020 American action-disaster film about a fleeing family’s desperate attempt to escape a cataclysmic Earth-crushing comet.
Directed by Ric Roman Waugh from a screenplay written by Chris Sparling, the American-British movie stars Gerard Butler, Morena Baccarin, Roger Dale Floyd and Scott Glenn.
Plot:
A family fights for survival as a planet-destroying comet race to Earth. John Garrity (Gerard Butler), his estranged wife Allison (Morena Baccarin), and young son Nathan make a perilous journey to their only hope for sanctuary.
Amid terrifying news accounts of cities around the world being levelled by the comet’s fragments, the Garrity’s experience the best and worst in humanity while they battle the increasing panic and lawlessness surrounding them. As the countdown to global apocalypse approaches zero, their incredible trek culminates in a desperate and last-minute flight to a possible safe haven…
Reviews:
“Everything in Greenland is presented with a dour self-seriousness that becomes tiresome to endure, as it’s not like the material has anything of substance to say. Once the action finally starts to fly in the third act (Butler outdrives a wave of falling asteroids), I had lost interest as I awaited the inevitably saccharine conclusion. While admittedly competent, Greenland never achieves much of note with its well-trudged premise.” Battle Royale with Cheese (BRWC)
“A constantly tense, tautly-paced, and often truly moving thrill-ride of a disaster film with real gritty tone and apocalyptic feel that, apart from a few sentimental bits, is totally devoid of any cheese at all, Greenland focuses mostly on the world mayhem caused by the comet than the destructive event itself…” CineMarvellous!
“Perhaps this is a subtle metaphor for white privilege, but if so the message is grab it with both hands, screw everyone else. Along the way there is increasing destruction, though nothing of the budget and scale of 2012, and the family meet the expected crazies a la War of the Worlds. Of course, it all becomes increasingly silly and the more it goes on the more you keep asking – why?`’ A Debt to Pleasure
“Set pieces are cleverly orchestrated while plausibility is maintained through a genuine emotional commitment from the principle players. In the latter stages when a perpetually grizzled Scott Glenn arrives, events take a more serious turn. His presence adds a degree of gravitas which only forces other cast members to up their game.” Flickering Myth
” …what makes Greenland stand out is how, at certain times, what we’re watching doesn’t seem so spectacular, but very much like the real thing — albeit with a fair amount of VFX and Butler’s own brand of sweaty, stress-bucket bravado. Both of those are to be expected in this type of mid-sized blockbuster, while what sticks in your mind most about Greenland are those moments when it doesn’t feel like a movie at all..” The Hollywood Reporter
” …it suffers from a few unneeded, boring scenes, but apart from that, the acting, atmosphere, and the adrenaline-pumping storyline is what really sets this out above the rest. Unlike other movies in this genre, you care about the characters and want to see them survive, and ultimately that’s what compels you to watch as you want to see what will happen to the characters as, at any minute, something could go disastrously wrong.” Movie Babble
“Gerard Butler who is not a big star mainly because he keeps making these films has a very charismatic presence to him which lets Greenland’s runtime slide very smoothly. And it’s not just Greenland’s star Gerard Butler who does the majority of heavy lifting. Director Ric Roman Waugh also comes out as a capable director who manages to center tension and emotional drama into this post-apocalyptic world.” The Movie Culture
“Some might find the film slow because it ditches the regular disaster movie tropes and chooses to concentrate on the practicality of surviving a catastrophe. In that sense, Greenland is a slow-burning, mature and nuanced take on a life-altering and destructive fictional event that is all too familiar in today’s time. It’s as grounded as it is gritty, leaving you emotionally heavy and cinematically satisfied.” The Times of India
” …excellent acting and emotional, tense storytelling. Though it is about 20-30 minutes too long, the pacing isn’t bad, there are just a scene or two that maybe didn’t need to be there […] Gerard Butler is, of course, a great choice as an action movie lead. You know you can rely on his to give a great performance and this is no exception. But it’s Morena Baccarin who steals the show here with a great emotionally charged performance…” Trailer Trashed
Release:
In the USA, STX Entertainment releases Greenland on Premium VOD on December 18th 2020.
Cast and characters:
Gerard Butler … John Garrity
Morena Baccarin … Allison Garrity
Roger Dale Floyd … Nathan Garrity
Scott Glenn … Dale
Randal Gonzalez … Bobby
Rick Pasqualone … National News Anchor
Nicola Lambo … Morning Show Host
Alan Pietruszewski … Morning Show Host
Scott Poythress … Kenny
Claire Bronson … Debra Jones
Madison Johnson … Ellie Jones
Gary Weeks … Ed Pruitt
Tracey Bonner … Peggy Pruitt
Merrin Dungey … Major Breen
Brandon Miller … Security Forces Sergeant
Technical details:
119 minutes
Aspect ratio: 2.39:1
YouTube reviews:
Critics’ aggregated rating:
