ReviewMoonfall movie review: Halle Berry, Patrick Wilson tackle the moon in The Day After Tomorrow director Roland Emmerich’s sci-fi action spectacle
- The moon slips its orbit and threatens annihilation in Roland Emmerich’s new disaster movie. Ex-astronauts Halle Berry and Patrick Wilson try to avert disaster
- Built on crackpot theories but thoroughly enjoyable, the film features a cameo from Kelly Yu and a show-stealing turn from Game of Thrones’ John Bradley
3/5 stars
“What’s the plan?” asks Halle Berry’s Nasa suit. “Save the moon, save Earth,” comes the reply from Patrick Wilson’s fellow ex-astronaut. As pitches go, that pretty much sums up Roland Emmerich’s Moonfall.
A disaster movie from a specialist in them (Emmerich brought us alien invasion saga Independence Day and eco-catastrophe tale The Day After Tomorrow), this latest blockbuster is an enjoyable romp built on crackpot theories that will keep internet forums chattering for years.
When the moon’s orbit is suddenly out of whack, Earth faces annihilation. Tsunami, earthquakes and eruptions start, although they are just a precursor to the main event as the moon draws ever closer to our planet.
The US government is ready to fire nukes, but Brian Harper (Wilson) and Jo Fowler (Berry) have other ideas. Joining them is Dr KC Houseman (Game of Thrones’ John Bradley), an astronomy and physics nerd who recognised the moon was off course before anyone at Nasa did.
On the ground are the inevitable assorted family members – including Harper’s teenage delinquent son Sonny (Charlie Plummer) and Fowler’s little boy, who is being looked after by Chinese exchange student Michelle (Kelly Yu).