Ok, a pre-review warning: My rating and opinion of this movie are highly colored by a) my admiration for Joss Whedon and b) my love for his cancelled series, Firefly. As I was watching the movie, I initially tried to view it as someone who had never seen an episode of Firefly would view it. It didn’t take long for me to realize the futility of that exercise, lighten up and just plain enjoy the movie.


* * * * * A little bit o’ background * * * * *

Serenity is the feature-length film based on Joss Whedon’s cancelled series, Firefly. It takes place five hundred years in the future, after humans have run out of room on Earth-that-was. Another solar system has been found, and a dozen planets were terra-formed. There is a central government in place, called the Alliance. Not too long ago, there was a huge war between the Alliance and those who didn’t want to be ruled, the Independents. The Alliance has retained control over the central, core planets. However, life in the skies, as well as the outer planets, is harder to govern.


* * * * * Serenity * * * * *

Captain Malcolm Reynolds and his First Mate, Zoë Washburn fought in the war, for the Independents. They now fly on Mal’s ship, Serenity, taking jobs here, picking up passengers there, just trying to eek out a living, and trying to stay under the Alliance’s radar. The rest of the crew includes Wash the pilot (and Zoë’s husband), Kaylee the mechanic and Jayne the hired muscle. Also aboard Serenity at the beginning of the movie are Dr. Simon Tam and his sister, River. Simon has sacrificed everything he’s known, as well as his future to rescue his sister from the inhumane experimentation she’s been subjected to at the hands of a branch of the Alliance that doesn’t technically exist.

It appears that the experiments have made an unusually intelligent girl into a weapon. A psychic weapon. A psychic weapon that has been in the same room with very high members of the Alliance. Knowing this, a man (who is as non-existent as that specialized branch) has been sent to retrieve River. Tensions are running high between Simon and Mal, and they decide it will be better to part ways. It’s no secret that Joss likes powerful women, and at this point, he doesn’t disappoint when River’s trigger is… triggered, and she shows just what kind of weapon they were trying to create.

As pieces of the puzzle unfold as to what River gleaned from the minds of the Alliance officials, Serenity never fails to entertain, full of characteristic Joss Whedon-type action, banter, and witty dialogue. The movie, though it could never fully realize the dream of five-season story arcs, made me very happy. I feel like a few huge Firefly loose ends were tied (neatly and unavoidably conveniently). Though there were a few times when the jokes could only be appreciated by Firefly fans (it was fun to listen to the chuckles around me, knowing who’d seen the show, and who was just showing up for the movie), I think the movie can be appreciated by all…

Oh, and damn you, Joss Whedon, damn you… those who’ve seen the movie will know why. I am a leaf on the wind.


* * * * * Movie Details * * * * *

Rated: PG-13
Runtime: 119 minutes
Created, Written and Directed by: Joss Whedon
Starring: Captain Malcolm "Mal" Reynolds ~ Nathan Fillion
Zoë Washburne ~ Gina Torres
Kaywinnit Lee 'Kaylee' Frye ~ Jewel Staite
Hoban "Wash" Washburne ~ Alan Tudyk
Jayne Cobb ~ Adam Baldwin
Dr. Simon Tam ~ Sean Maher
River Tam ~ Summer Glau
Inara Serra ~ Morena Baccarin
Shepherd Derrial Book ~ Ron Glass
The Operative ~ Chiwetel Ejiofor


* * * * * Worth Noting * * * * *

Most of the actors haven’t been in too many other things (besides Joss Whedon productions) but I was taken back through a trip in time when I looked up Adam Baldwin’s imdb bio. His very first project was playing the title role in the 1980 flick, My Bodyguard. I only remembered Matt Dillon as the bully in that movie. I think I’ll be renting it soon!

Firefly was cancelled by the same network that cancelled (and then brought back) Family Guy. Does this mean I can dare to dream? I didn’t think so either. Sigh.

If you feel so inclined, you can check out my review of the cancelled series, Firefly, by clicking here.



Recommended: Yes