Plot
In an alternate reality, humans and mythical creatures co-exist.
Daryl Ward is a long standing detective with the LAPD, and his new partner Nick Jakoby is the world’s first Orc police officer. Despised by his peers due to his heritage, and disowned by his own kind for becoming a police officer, Nick is desperate to prove his worth.
Months after a near fatal incident, Ward is back on the streets, and one night along with Nick discovers, Tikka a fairy – who happens to have a stolen magic wand.
The wand’s owner, Leilah, a “Bright” wants her wand back, and wants to bring back a Dark Lord to rule mankind. Now Daryl and Nick must keep Tikka safe, and stop Leilah from getting the wand – and enacting her plan.
Direction
David Ayer directs. I found this akin to his previous cop film End of Watch, with his ‘gritty’ take on police work at times.
There is some on the nose CGI use, especially in the car accident scene
Cast
Will Smith plays Daryl Ward. He is a jaded cop, blinded by his bigotry for Orcs due to their nature. A great deal of Smith’s own… “personality” comes through in Ward, and this predates “the slap” – so the world still liked him at this stage. Sadly this isn’t much fun to watch knowing what we know now.
Joel Edgerton plays Nick Jakoby – the only Orc Police Officer in the country. I loved his child like innocence he brings to the role – and he’s the MVP of the film.
Other cast include Noomie Rapace as Leilah, Edgar Ramirez as Kandomere, and Lucy Fry as Tikka.
Breakdown
The big up for me was the world that exists here. It is a gritty, almost dystopian LA, I liked what Ayers presented, which is similar to his previous cop film End of Watch.
The film adds the whole “race relations” in a somewhat clever way, however here it isn’t “caucasians vs black people (sorry if this is the politically incorrect terminology)” – but “people vs mythical creatures.
Had it been made just a few short years later, I’m sure they would have tried to inject the people vs the police into the script too.
This theme feels all but abandoned towards the end of the film when “all becomes good” between characters… especially Smith’s Ward and Edgerton,s Jakobi. (Another example of “people vs orcs” that was added to an already overflowing screenplay.
The big down is the entire “mythos” of the world, including fairies, magic wands, magic police etc is confusing and convoluted. sometimes it feels like it chops and changes to suit the story.
Then, the “what a bright is” isn’t explained as well as it could be. The reveal that Ward is a bright at the end of the film feels completely on the nose too. Then there is Nick’s sudden 180 “acceptance” into both the police and the orcs which is added in the split seconds before credits roll.
Overall
Overlong, over confusing with too much mythos surrounding the fairies, the demi gods, the prophecies etc etc. There is just too much happening all at once, and this would have worked better as a mini series, where all the back stories had more time to be set up and explained better.
Will Smith is his usual self here, and while that was fun before 2022, it’s not anymore.
The only saving grace is Edgerton (Go Aussie Go!) as Nick.
Sit this one out.
2/5
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