Take a Stand|Jan. 28, 2021|Australia|128 Min.
Genre: Action;Science;Fiction
Description: “Occupation: Rainfall” (2021) is a space opera film that blends ambitious special effects with a melodramatic narrative. While it doesn’t always achieve seamless visual integration, its bold vision and effort are commendable. The movie draws inspiration from iconic sci-fi franchises like “Star Wars,” “Star Trek,” “Independence Day,” and “War of the Worlds,” though it fails to carve out a distinct identity. Instead, it revels in its own fun, campy style.
The plot centers on an all-out war between extraterrestrial forces and the surviving Australian population. The film features a mix of practical and computer-generated effects, alongside a cast that includes Daniel Gillies, Jet Tranter, and Dan Ewing, who battle alien creatures in a fight for survival. Despite its energetic action sequences, the movie lacks subtlety and feels overly long, stretching just over two hours while delivering minimal plot progression. It concludes with a sequel-baiting ending, hinting at future installments.
The film also includes comedic attempts from Ken Jeong and Jason Isaacs, whose roles as scientist caricatures fall flat and feel out of place. While “Occupation: Rainfall” offers entertainment through its over-the-top action and sci-fi tropes, it ultimately suffers from shallow aesthetics and an overload of distractions. It’s a quintessentially Australian take on the genre, embracing its cheesy roots without much concern for polish or depth.
Cast director: Luke Sparke
Cast actor: Ken Jeong, Temuera Morrison, Daniel Gillies, Dena Kaplan, Dan Ewing, Vince Colosimo, Katrina Risteska, Jet Tranter, Erin Connor, Jason Isaacs
Original name: Occupation: Rainfall