You have no idea what you are in store for with Serenity. That’s not a compliment, but more of a warning. Whatever you think you’ll undergo while watching this unsound thriller set on a fantasy island where everybody knows everything – think again. The plot starts out a little offbeat, yet there’s this feeling of intrigue and sense of trouble that holds your attention. Then, the unthinkable happens and all that once enticed gets thrown out to sea to never be seen or felt again.
Matthew McConaughey plays an Iraq veteran turned captain of a fishing boat who goes by the name Baker Dill (doesn’t sound real does it?). Him and his first-mate Duke (Djimon Hounsou) take rich tourists out to catch tuna, but they don’t always pay after being threatened with a knife. Baker is very sensitive when it comes to one special tuna that most think is only in his head. He’s nicknamed it Justice and there’s good reason for it. If Baker’s not out on the water, he can be found in Constance’s (Diane Lane) bed – his sugar momma when nothing is biting.
Baker’s boat gets seriously rocked once his past comes walking into a bar and back into his life. Anne Hathaway plays Karen, a blonde bombshell and old flame that left him years ago, but not before they had Patrick (Rafael Sayegh), their teen son who plays video games to tune out his step-dad Frank (Jason Clarke) – a grade A asshole – constantly threatening his mother.
It’s the demoralizing and the abuse that pushes Karen to make a $10 million plea to have Baker feed Frank to the sharks. And as much as we all wouldn’t mind that, it’s not an easy decision for Baker; he’s a good man, but he’s a father that shares a special connection with his son and help is what his child needs. The rules have officially changed.
What becomes a mawkish melodrama, Serenity is not as clever as it thinks as it gets hooked on a fishing line of absurdity. Nevertheless, to reveal anything else would ruin the magical madness that awaits. Director Steven Knight takes pleasure in his WTF moments. It’s unique, free-swinging filmmaking at its finest. The problem is it gets way too close to becoming laughable, but that doesn’t stop the star-studded cast to staying serious throughout. A tough job indeed.
Serenity comes to a sudden stop when the twist is told and in no time sinks straight to the bottom. If Knight is going to fucking go for it then skip the misguided mysteries and metaphors and go full-on weird. He’s already thrown logic off the deep end. What does he have to lose?
“Nature Boy” Brandon Vick is the resident film critic of the SoBros Network, and star of Brandon’s Box Office In Your Mouth. Follow him on Twitter@SirBrandonV and be sure to search #VicksFlicks for all of his latest movie reviews.
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