Summary
Mother/Android comes with a measure of disappointment, but it platforms good performances. So there’s at least that.
This review of the Hulu film Mother/Android does not contain spoilers.
There’s no doubt that Mother/Android understands the hopelessness of a sudden disaster. The film opens with the usual societal order; Georgia (played Chloë Grace Moretz) is fumbling over a decision to make — she’s pregnant, but she’s not even sure if she wants a baby or to stay in a relationship with Sam (played by Algee Smith). At best, it’s a first-world problem, emphasizing the nature and tribulations of young adult love, where complications and solutions are close but far apart.
And what follows is chaos. The Hulu film articulates normality so breezily that when the androids turn on the human race so suddenly, we are shocked into a survival story. Georgia and Sam face a world ruled by violent androids, coupled with the looming challenging task of parenthood. The film attempts to give A Quiet Place vibe, toying with the possibility that new life could result in sudden death.
The post-apocalyptic world that follows is an unsure one. Mother/Android tries to balance impending parenthood on shaky relationship grounds while also displaying a chaotic, unforgiving world. It hones in on desperate young fools trying to make the right decision. But the film is not sure which theme it primarily wants to hone in on; is it the state of play or the importance of nuclear family in horrific times? The writing attempts to merge the two, flirting with generic sci-fi tropes while attempting a drama-filled presentation.
Without the well-earned performances from Chloë Grace Moretz and Algee Smith, the film would fall over from its foundations fairly easily. The world of violent androids is barely engaging enough or thoroughly explained to even pique one’s interest. Instead, the film labors over plot points while zeroing in on a bickering young couple stressing in unprecedented times. Luckily, it feeds off the emotional entanglement of bringing life into this world, and what that exactly means, and the consequences at bay.
But it’s fair to say, Mother/Android comes with a measure of disappointment, but it platforms good performances. So there’s at least that.
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