Ridley Scott's latest film, "The Dog Stars," places young stars Jacob Elordi and Margaret Qualley in a post-apocalyptic landscape, prompting questions about their ability to carry a film as genuine movie stars.
Directed by the 88-year-old Scott, known for guiding actors to iconic performances, the film features Elordi as Hig, a mechanic and pilot mourning his late wife in a world ravaged by a global pandemic. He shares his isolated existence with Bangley, played by Josh Brolin, who adopts a more fatalistic view of survival. Hig, however, holds onto hope, spurred by a mysterious voice on his plane's radio that suggests a larger settlement.
Qualley portrays Cima, a former medical student Hig encounters on his quest. While both Elordi and Qualley are described as charismatic and falling under the "movie star" umbrella, the film's review suggests they are not yet definitively proven box office draws. Elordi, who has an Oscar nomination for "Frankenstein" and a recent hit with "Wuthering Heights," and Qualley, who has led several films including "Honey Don't!," are tasked with inhabiting characters who are stripped down, often covered in dirt, and slow to consider romance. This de-glamming, according to critics, only registers when one realizes how long it takes for their characters to contemplate intimacy.
Elordi's character is presented as reasonable and sensitive, in contrast to Brolin's more hardened Bangley. This portrayal, while perhaps intended to highlight his likability, is seen by some as lacking sharp edges. Elordi effectively conveys his character's grief and despair, though he has demonstrated a greater range in previous roles.
Qualley's performance is noted for her easy charisma, though the character is characterized as underdeveloped. The film itself, despite its R rating and moments of gore, is critiqued for a "vaguely YA-adjacent sensibility" that feels at odds with its source material, a literary fiction novel. The characters, while fitting for the actors' current status, are perceived as caught between archetypes and a more complex adulthood.
Despite these critiques, the film is acknowledged for its visual prowess, with Scott's direction and Erik Messerschmidt's cinematography creating an eerie atmosphere. The performances by Elordi, Qualley, and Brolin, along with Scott's visual direction, make "The Dog Stars" a diverting entertainment. However, the film and its stars are ultimately seen as not quite fully formed, with the narrative struggling to advance the characters beyond their established beauty and charisma.