My Review Of "Ellipse"

Sci-fi drama "Ellipse" is a blend of comedy and observational melodrama. The film is directed by Joe Bland and Grant Martin. It stars Josiah Authier and Grant Martin.

A intergalactic military surveyor and his canine partner are on a solo fight near an undefined, oval-shaped planet. Because of his self-destructive coping methods, a simple fly-by soon turns into an emergency crash landing. Stranded and stripped of the chemicals to feed his addiction, he and his dog must face an unforgiving planet with impending death lurking all around.

The story has emotional depth written into the concept, with subject matter revolving around loss and sorrow. Unfortunately there is never a moment that allows the viewer to connect or get a sense of that emotion. Almost every moment is tore down by spoofy humor and "Dad joke" silliness. The story arc is more or less a series of unfortunate events leading up to one miraculous stretch of the imagination. 

The acting is a mix of one-liners, coordinated stunt drama and deep exposition that seems to get lost in fantasy fodder. The best thing going for "Ellipse" is the genuine attachment you develop for the dog in the story. There isn't much opportunity to develop a real connection with the lead human actor because comedy cuts that cord each and every time.

The special effects are the expected blend of low budget CGI like what is seen on the Syfy channel, and Game play stuff. Beyond a few noticable sci-fi elements everything about this movie looks like the here-and-now. The film does have a decent soundtrack and the cinematography is quality- minus the generic "male model fashion video-esque" moments.

Overall I was disappointed with "Ellipse". I expected a bit more sci-fi in a film that is supposed to be all sci-fi. Still I could have accepted that if the schtick hadn't stepped over the only legitimate story element- the subject of loss, mortality, and the pain associated with the human experience. Plus as heartfelt as the ending was it felt a little bit unnecessary. But I was all about the dogs storyline. (2/5)