Geo Storm movie review

 

Movie Review: Geostorm (2017) – A Storm of Speed and Emotion

Watched Geostorm, directed by Dean Devlin, and while I liked it overall, there were a few things that didn't sit well with me. It had its moments—emotion, action, twists—but could have used more depth in several areas.

Setting the Stage

The movie opens with a narration by a young girl, explaining how Earth faced a massive environmental crisis and how her father helped save the planet by building a space-based weather control system called Dutch Boy. It’s an interesting setup that tries to blend science fiction with emotional storytelling.

The Heart of the Story

One of the stronger aspects was the emotional thread between the two brothers, Jake and Max. That dynamic was portrayed well, but there was a missed opportunity in the scene where Max convinces Jake to return to Dutch Boy. The conversation felt rushed and unconvincing. Given the stakes, there should have been a stronger build-up and more urgency to show why Jake's return was critical.

There were glimpses of a father-daughter emotional bond that reminded me of Interstellar—which, as many know, is my all-time favorite. I could connect to that part emotionally, even though it wasn’t explored deeply.

Character Balance and Screen Time

From the very beginning, it's established that Jake is the architect of Dutch Boy and knows it inside out. But strangely, the film gives more screen time and narrative control to Max. There was a lot of potential to showcase Jake's technical brilliance and problem-solving skills on the space station, but it felt underused. The attempts made in this direction were rushed and lacked detail.

Twists, Pacing, and Visuals

I did enjoy the plot twist around the villain. The movie built suspicion around certain characters and managed to surprise me with its reveal. However, the disaster events—what you’d expect to be the movie’s big moments—felt a little too fast-paced and lacked realism. Compared to other disaster films like 2012, the geostorm events here seemed less impactful and more rushed, especially as the movie approached its climax.

Abbie Cornish as Sarah Wilson stood out, especially during the high-stakes car chase scene in the final act. That was one of the more grounded and intense sequences. The visual effects were solid in space scenes but not quite believable when depicting events on Earth.

The Ending

The one part that made the experience worthwhile for me was the climax. It delivered the emotional punch the rest of the film struggled to build. As the film wrapped up with a closing narration from Jake’s daughter, the final line—"One Earth, One People"—left a strong impression.

Final Thoughts

Despite its pacing issues and missed opportunities, Geostorm has moments that work. A bit more focus on character depth and realism could’ve made it a far stronger film.

Rating: 2.75 / 5

Thank you for reading.
— Sai Deepak Belamana