Don Reviews "Mercy"

They say that technology expands exponentially, and that is best illustrated by how much has happened just in the last two hundred years.  One could even further that argument with two letters: AI.  Many worry is that the power of AI may not be able contained eventually, winding up in a society that resembles that of The Terminator films.  Does Mercy fit into that mold?

Directed by Timur Bekmambetov (Wanted), this cast includes Chris Pratt, Rebecca Ferguson, Kali Reis, Annabelle Wallis, Chris Sullivan, and Kenneth Choi.  It’s the “near future”, and crime is out of control.  Because of this, the government in Los Angeles unveils a new criminal justice and trial system called “Mercy,” where the accused has ninety minutes to prove their innocence to an AI judge, having access to all the technology and information that the government has to do so or is immediately executed.  Chris Raven (Pratt), an LAPD detective, wakes up finding himself in the “hot seat” for the murder of his wife, and the clock is ticking.

I was able to screen this film in IMAX 3-D, and although it is always great to see a film in this format, I do not know if the 3-D truly enhanced this film like other films like Avatar.  The cast is fine for this type of film, but I do like seeing Pratt in a more dramatic role, which is a opposite from stuff like Parks & Recreation.  There is a standout here, and for me it is Ferguson did as Judge Maddox, who nails it.

In general, the script is very predictable, but at an hour and forty minutes, it sits in right about the right length.  There are a few plot holes here, and don’t get me into the issues of suspension of disbelief.  My biggest issue is that Mercy takes too much time in the whodunnit piece of the story and not enough talking about how AI impacts society and the underlying warnings within it.  If you are going to see this film, be made aware there is nothing great about it outside of Ferguson’s performance, but if you do go, it is not worth the extra cost for 3-D.  Honestly, Mercy is best seen on a home cable service like HBO.