What an enjoyable and engaging movie. It manages to achieve that most difficult of knacks: to make you care about the characters.
Something happens on Mars, and an American scientific expedition have to hurriedly blast-off from the planet, leaving behind one their number, presumed dead. But he (Damon) isn't dead, and he is faced with the dilemma of how to stay alive alone on Mars with the barest of hopes that those back on Earth will realise the truth and mount a rescue mission. But time is against him: it will be at least four years before a spacecraft can get from Earth to Mars.
The action divides itself between Damon on Mars, the administrative and scientific folk back on Earth, and the homeward bound team on the spaceship. Problems are defined, solutions are proposed, developments aid or thwart resolution. A gripping tension is maintained throughout the film, but it nicely counterpointed with warm and welcome doses of humour.
All the actors contribute stalwart performances, aided by an intelligent script (Drew Goddard) and skillful directing (Ridley Scott). Matt Damon is solid as the Martian Robinson Crusoe, and he delivers a believable portrayal of a complex and resourceful man dealing with an intolerable situation. Also of note is Michael Peña, who delivers another likeable performance (we have seen him before in Ant-Man), this time as Damon's verbal sparring partner.
Well worth the time and money.
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