It is extremely difficult not to champion original films when they are released in theaters, especially those given big budgets and helmed by high-caliber talent. Films like Sinners have shown that amazing things can happen when filmmakers are given the money and power to make an original project, heightening anticipation for the latest Chris Pratt venture, Mercy. Although every part of me wanted to be the champion of the project, it sadly missed the mark on nearly every level.

Taking place in the near future, the film follows Detective Chris Raven, played by Pratt, as he stands on trial for the death of his wife against an AI judge, played by Rebecca Ferguson. Tied to a chair, he is given 90 minutes to prove his innocence, using the AI software to track his movements during the time of death as well as find potential suspects of the murder. Taking place mostly in one location, the film delves into the use of AI technology and tells the story of a broken man undergoing catharsis.

The basic set-up of Mercy is straightforward and highly compelling for a theatrical runtime. Films like Source Code and Searching have shown that a one-location, sci-fi thriller can work well on the big screen, and this film borrows from the ways that made those films successful. The ticking-clock element gives the film a breakneck pace, making for a light and breezy experience.

Sadly, that is where the positives end. Although Mercy has the ingredients of an entertaining sci-fi thriller, its overall execution falls short in the most essential ways for a film in this genre to succeed. The story of a man finding out who killed his wife is basic in premise, but the screenplay itself is one of the most needlessly complicated in recent memory. How the murder took place and how the murderer got away is overly elaborate to a point where it took me out of the film entirely. Although they explain how the murderer was planning his strike for a long time, there is no world where someone could pull off this crime.

It would be easy to forgive the movie’s silliness if it poked fun at itself, but Mercy plays out in the most serious manner. Although the stakes are high throughout, a film with a premise like this needs levity to break the tension, but it’s entirely absent. With someone like Chris Pratt at the helm, one would expect at least some humor, but the film’s focus on being a straight thriller turns moments that should be fun into melodrama.

Chris Pratt hasn’t been on the best streak of films, but his work in this is perhaps his all-time worst. The writing of his character already lacks personality, but Pratt does nothing to elevate the material, playing every scene straight and lacking the emotional moments that would drive the film. There are line deliveries, especially at the beginning of the film, where he reads his dialogue in such a mellow manner that it parallels moments from last year’s War of the Worlds, which is about as low a bar as one’s acting can be. While Pratt has proven to be a capable leading actor in the past, his performance here makes one wonder whether he has lost the charisma to carry a film.

While the ticking-clock element gives the film an energetic pace, it is almost too much. The film throws different pieces of information at you within seconds of each other, making it extremely difficult to keep up with everything that is happening. For a film about discovering how an elaborate murder took place, it is important that the film lets the audience in on every step, but the fast-paced editing makes it extremely hard to keep up. The film also features holograms of pictures and videos that appear and reappear at a rapid pace, and because the editing is so fast, these holograms become jarring. Being screened in 3D, the holograms create a dizzying effect that contributes to the film’s jumbled nature, making it impossible not only to keep up with the screenplay but also with the visuals. For a film taking place mostly in one location, one wouldn’t imagine a film would be a visual mess, but somehow, Mercy finds a way to accomplish that.

Despite issues across many aspects of filmmaking, the most egregious component of the movie is its stance on AI. With the premise delving into AI’s use in real-life scenarios, the film had an easy layup to display the dangers of new-age technology, but instead, it relies solely on AI to save the day. They even make a point in the film where they state how humans and AI aren’t as different as people may think, which is a horrible message to present in a world where AI is ruining thousands of people’s lives. In a world where AI is inescapable, Mercy takes the most offensive and irresponsible approach to how AI should be represented.

Seeing an original film crash and burn as badly as Mercy is such a travesty, as it has the goods to make for a fun ride. Sadly, the film is far too dull and poorly made to recommend, using its platform to spread what is easily one of the worst messages in a big-budget film in years. Maybe it’s time for Chris Pratt to come back to Marvel.

Mercy will be playing in theaters nationwide on January 23.

Rating: 3/10

Oscar Prospects:

None.