Greenland

Certificate: 15

Starring: Gerard Butler, Morena Baccarin, Scott Glenn, Hope Davis, Roger Dale Floyd

Release date: 2021

3 out of 5

3

It’s the end of the world as we know it (probably) as an interstellar comet heads for earth in this enjoyable disaster flick.

As the planet prepares for the worst, structural engineer John Garrity (Butler), his estranged wife Allison (Baccarin) and their young diabetic son – the diabetic bit being a major plot point – Nathan (Floyd) get a message from the US government saying they have been pre-selected for emergency shelter.  Alas, their neighbours have not – leading to an awkward moment as the Garritys leave their picturesque suburb while everyone else prepares to duck, cover and, presumably wait to be squished by big, burning, falling space rocks.

Of course, the family’s journey isn’t easy, especially as Nathan’s medication gets mislaid, John gets separated from his wife and child, a couple who gives Nathan and Allison a lift are, well, not the best choice in travel companions, John gets inventive with a hammer while trying to be reunited with his family, and rumours abound that the place everyone needs to get to ASAP is Greenland as that is where the emergency shelters for the lucky chosen few people are.

Similar to movies like Deep Impact, 2012 and San Andreas, this works well thanks to the breakneck speed of the plot, some neat twists and Butler and Baccarin’s enjoyable performances. Sure, Butler can’t decide whether he is Scottish or American accent-wise, and his tough guy persona does make you secretly wish he’d just punch that pesky comet out of the sky with his bare fist, but he’s a believably imperfect dad and husband who navigates the entertainingly improbably events of the movie with tongue firmly in cheek.

Is Greenland suitable for kids? Here are our parents’ notes...

This is a disaster movie aimed at older kids and adults, and is a 15 certificate due to language and some scenes of violence.

Sensitive/younger viewers may find scenes involving young Nathan upsetting. (See spoilers)

SPOILER ALERT

Nathan is snatched from his mother which may upset viewers.

John is attacked and retaliates, and kills a man with a hammer. The hammer is shown protruding from the victim’s head.

 

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