There are so many things to pick apart about After Earth, the challenge is not in finding valid criticisms for a film review, but in figuring out where to begin. Could you comment on the mediocre acting skills displayed by the normally charismatic Will Smith and his significantly less talented son Jaden? Yeah, absolutely. While you're at it, it's probably worth taking a few pot shots at the ridiculously unnecessary and unidentifiable accents they chose to employ in the film. If you've still got space left over in your article, feel free to discuss the incoherent story line and substandard attempts at world-building that only succeeded in creating giant holes in the plot. You could comment on all of these, that would be totally fair. This is an awful, awful, awful film. And if there's one thing critics hate more than films anchored by untalented actors, it's films anchored by untalented actors who only got the job because their daddy happens to be the Fresh Prince of Bel Air. Perhaps David Edwards of The Daily Mirror said it best when he remarked on the film, "Calling After Earth the worst movie ever made may be overstating things, but it's a disaster zone of Chernobyl-esque proportions."
Audrey Fox is an ex-film student, which means that she prefers to spend her days in the dark, watching movies and pondering the director's use of diegetic sound. She currently works as an entertainment writer, joyfully rambling about all things film and television related. Add her on Twitter at @audonamission and check out her film blog at 1001moviesandbeyond.com.
