Mercy Movie Review
Mercy is a thought-provoking film that, while deeply flawed, can serve as a good watch for discussion—especially with insightful teenagers or future spouses. Be advised: This movie contains strong language and explores tough topics, that it does not handle well.
Mercy Movie Review
Starring Chris Pratt, and Rebeca Ferguson as the Ai.
A convicted detective on trail for killing his wife, seeks to clear his name with the help of AI. The ‘Mercy’ program, is an AI judge, that has access to all available documents, and serves as judge, jury, and executioner.
The concept is interesting and the plot is solid, Chris Pratt was a choice pick for the role, as the action hero dad. The problems with the story come with the dad’s character, it does make the story plausible why he is on trail, and helps with understanding his responses, but his choices make him a hard to admire figure. (SPOILER) the only notable redemption arc he has is his humility and repentance, he now questions some early bad assumptions about the Mercy program. Fair enough, but still lacking in spiritual catharsis.
One scene had Chris Pratt telling his daughter
“It’s not right that I looked at your phone, I’m sorry”.
This signals to me he doesn’t actually care about his daughter. She's a teenager and talking to a half naked guy in a bath tub,a bout stealing her away, and his father has no idea who this guy even is. Sad, but probably a relatable troupe. The problem is he’s absent uncaring dad.
But the reward for bad parent goes to the mom.
This move had a lot of people you did not want to like. His wife was terrible, and arguable the 3rd villain in the movie. At one point in the movie you see her lock him out of the house and say
“It’s my house!”.
This took me out of the story. They both worked, and he poured himself into and I think she stopped working, that part was unclear too.
Either way, you’d think his name would on it or both their names would of been on it, of course It could be just part of the lore that she bought the house in her name or it belonged to her already. Who knows or cares?
She was a total brat, who made her husband feel inadequate like he could never live up to her standards. However, she could have been doing it on purpose, because, she was having an affair and looking to leave. This does make the story more plausible, being a crime of passion, which later leads to key plot point, but still, you hate to see it.
Hot take: Her death does add some much needed catharsis.
That being said, I believe these marital problems rarely happen in a vacuum. He didn't have a rock to stand on when his partner died, and failed to sheperd his family. She went looking for love and affection in the wrong places and was unfaithful. Both lost and unable to weather their storm.
A black female cop on a hover bike felt kind of silly.
It is the opinion of the author, that woman should not pursue a career in our police force. It gave off much diversity quota vibes and felt unrealistic. In one scene she takes on a muscular man, out of her weight class. She of course has her training, but the optics took me out of the story.
The pacing is pretty good keeping your attention throughout, only deveating from the plot for crucial character deleopement, you do start to wonder if he really did it. The action was classic Hollywood.
There are two major plot twists I did not spoil. So if you are considering still watching, you will still be somewhat surprised.
Fun facts related to the movie.
Urea is waste product found in urin.
The anchorman was Perd Herdman in Parks and Rec w Chris Pratt.
Other Things I liked.
Concept of working with AI.
Humility and repentance narrative, learn from your mistake.
Ai enhanced detective.
2 plot twist.
Other things I disliked.
AI was a better partner than the guys wife.
The daughter has witch nails, it felt pagan.
2 plot twists.
movie score 2.5 out of 5