What’s It About
Atlas Shepherd (Lopez), a brilliant but misanthropic data analyst with a deep distrust of artificial intelligence, joins a mission to capture a renegade robot with whom she shares a mysterious past. But when plans go awry, her only hope of saving the future of humanity from AI is to trust it.
MOVIESinMO REVIEW
AI isn’t new, but ever since Wall-E, I, Robot, and the more recent Creator, the idea of artificial intelligence dominating humanity has been a persistent concern. Have we become so dependent that we can’t even flip a light switch without assistance? AI has evolved exponentially in the cinematic landscape over the decades, with everyday reliance on Siri or Alexa becoming commonplace. In 2024, AI remains a hot topic, from SAG strike discussions to films like The Wild Robot (set to release later this year from DreamWorks) and the latest Netflix feature starring Jennifer Lopez. In the movie, Lopez portrays Atlas Shepherd, a brilliant yet complex data analyst who deeply distrusts artificial intelligence. She joins a mission to capture a renegade robot (Simu Liu) with whom she shares a mysterious past. When plans derail, her only hope of saving humanity’s future lies in trusting AI. At its core, the film explores themes of trust, loyalty, and family—both biological and chosen. Humans are inherently programmed to distrust those outside their family, but even family members can prove untrustworthy under certain circumstances. Lopez, known for her roles in romantic comedies, showcases her versatility in this film. With impressive performances in The Mother and Anaconda, she can handle more than comedic roles. Lopez delivers a surprisingly compelling performance from the opening scene, embracing AI to the closing credits. The film features a diverse cast, including Academy Award-nominated Sterling K. Brown (This is Us and American Fiction) and Simu Liu (Barbie and Shang-Chi). The movie relies heavily on CGI and camera tricks for storytelling. However, the talented cast ensures the story is effectively conveyed. As for the future of AI, only time will reveal whether it will benefit or hinder humanity. What is certain is that AI is here to stay. In the film, Lopez’s character, Atlas Shepherd, navigates a future where AI is deeply integrated into society. Her mother, Val Shepherd (Lana Parrilla), was a vocal advocate for advanced androids and created peaceful “house bots” like Harlan (Simu Liu). However, Val couldn’t prevent the violent AI revolution that followed (Wow, sounds just like I, Robot). Harlan, the world’s first AI terrorist, uploaded sentient code to his fellow androids, causing widespread destruction before leaving Earth with a promise to return. Atlas spends nearly 30 years searching for Harlan’s mysterious planet. An international coalition has built defenses in anticipation of Harlan’s return. When one of Harlan’s top lieutenants returns to Earth, humanity is ready. Atlas uncovers Harlan’s location and insists on joining the special forces team sent to apprehend him. Her post-traumatic stress and reliance on caffeine highlight her bitter demeanor. During the mission, Atlas finds herself trapped in a mech suit and must rely on “Smith” (a floating orb voiced by Gregory James Cohan) to stop Harlan’s scheme and return to Earth. The second act resembles a one-woman show, with Lopez playing off an all-too-friendly AI (Smith). Their dynamic provides comic relief, and a neural link is earned when they finally share. Atlas excels when focusing on the relationship between the heroine and her AI companion, reminiscent of films like Bumblebee, I, Robot, and Iron Man. Lopez’s performance is dialed in physically and emotionally, supported by a semi-strong script. Overall, Atlas is a Lopez B-movie wrapped in the talents of A-List actors. It doesn’t reinvent the wheel but it also doesn’t take itself too seriously, either. Atlas is a gripping sci-fi thriller exploring humanity’s battle against AI. With stunning visuals and intense action sequences, it dives into technology, ethics, and the future in an interconnected world despite its predictability.
OUR RATING – AN ARTIFICIAL 7