The Intergalactic Adventures of Max Cloud (2020) Review
Brooklyn, 1990. When gamer Sarah (Isabelle Allen) is transported beyond the screen and into her most played game, she finds herself trapped on intergalactic prison planet Heinous, home to the most dangerous villains in the galaxy, including the bizarre Revengor (John Hannah) and evil sorceress Shee (Lashana Lynch). The only way to escape is to complete the levels. Teaming up with space hero, Max Cloud (Scott Adkins), they must take on terrifying tyrants with a little help from her not-so-savvy best friend, Cowboy (Franz Drameh), controlling the console from her bedroom. Will they finish the game…or is Sarah destined to remain a 16-bit character forever?
Firstly I must congratulate the film’s production team on the ripe, colourful visual feast that they have concocted from a relatively low-budget. Director Martin Owen’s film looks terrific, from the hostile landscape of prison planet Heinous to the retro game design there is much to delight visually. Throw in a bouncy, zippy retro score to accompany MAX CLOUD’s playful tone and a game cast of actors ably meeting the demands of the required dynamic and everything looked to be in place for a fun watch. Unfortunately it’s not, the fun elements become tiring very quickly and sadly there’s less innovation outside of the film’s basic set-up.
Admittedly it’s refreshing to see Scott Adkins outside of his usual more adult-orientated violent fare. Adkins looks like he’s having a blast playing the titular character, channelling aspects of TOY STORY’s Buzz Lightyear’s persona into the mix, if only the same could be said for this viewer. For a film that brilliantly nails the visual and musical aesthetic it’s a shame that plotwise it’s little more than a retread of the same basic plot points that the likes of JUMANJI, TRON and others did better. Ultimately MAX CLOUD is not as much fun as it would like to be, it’s akin to that person at the office fancy dress party who nails the attire but tires you out quickly by attempting to be zacky and wacky long after people have decided enough is enough.
Released on digital, DVD & Blu-ray Monday 18th January 2021