Ad Astra Review: 7 Ups & 3 Downs
Downs...
3. The Totally Pointless Voiceover Narration
Despite the film's clear attempt to be a subtle, art-house riff on typical space-faring adventure stories, Ad Astra is frustratingly accompanied by an intrusive voiceover narration from Pitt's protagonist Roy McBride, over-explaining almost every facet of Roy's mission, his feelings and the film's themes.
It's tough not to watch the film and wonder whether the studio, terrified at the prospect of this $90 million movie bombing, decided to add the narration in post-production.
It leaves so little room for audiences to think for themselves and occasionally overpowers the beautiful imagery to such an extent that it actively detracts from some of the movie's more contemplative moments.
There aren't any scenes in the film that are especially enhanced by the narration, and so one has to wonder why it's even there at all. At best it's unnecessary, and at worst downright patronising.