TITAN A.E.

BY CHRISTOPHER HASKELL
SEPTEMBER 7, 2013

By and large, not the most compelling young adult animated film ever made, “Titan A.E.” does achieve some general level of memorability with its ensemble voice cast and its use of science fiction and space travel. However, it fails to stand the test of time and occasionally looks haphazard and uneven. Lead by Matt Damon as the main character Cale, the general emotions are there, but not much more than that. Drew Barrymore and Bill Pullman do well in bringing their characters to life and capture an essence that makes the film more enjoyable. The plot of the film: after the destruction of Earth, a band of misfits searches for humanity’s last hope. That produces a solid through-line science fiction film, but with constant motivation shifts and little emotional attachment between the characters, the overall story-line is lacking. Also, desperate to adhere to a young adult age group, the film’s score comprises pop music that often feels out of place, including LIT’s “Over My Head” as its anthem. Successful in its time and praised by several critics, “Titan A.E.” over 13 years later is not the influential science fiction film it once was. Instead, it is a somewhat scattered attempt at bringing animated adventures to adults.