'The Matrix Resurrections' A Review

The Matrix Resurrections is a scifi movie, a sequel to the Matrix Trilogy.  The movie opens on what is, in essence, a mirror image of the first scene of the original film only to discover it is a simulation in order to extract an AI consciousness that is modeled on Morpheus(Yahya Abdul-Mateen II), saved by Bugs(Jessica Henwick) a captain in the somewhat progressed society following Neo and Trinity's sacrifice in the original trilogy. Turns out Neo(Keanu Reeves) and Trinity(Carrie-Anne Moss) were saved by the machines and plugged back in to a new and improved matrix in order to harvest the seemingly boundless energy that results from their connection(love power?). After recruiting Morpheus Bugs sets her sights on freeing Neo who is a famous video game designer for creating "The Matrix" which is, in essence, the first film. Sound confusing, overly complicated, and too reliant on the success and plot of the first feature to add up to a stand alone story? You bet!

Although it's great to see the gang back together Reeves seems a bit haggard in his performance, whether that's a result of the script or personal burn out, it's not necessarily his fault but there is little freshness and immediacy to it. Moss is a delight, as always, but is given too little to do. New comers Abdul-Mateen and Henwick(along with many of the supporting cast) are delightful breaths of fresh air and new characters and a new take on this world would be the way to move forward with the franchise, a new focus, but even as these new characters are introduced they are sidelined in favor of tired reboot/nostalgia retread. 

Visually the film lacks the originality of the first Matrix and even some of the set pieces of the later two. The score is the same dark techno droning and twenty years on it doesn't have the same impact. The action, what little of it there is, is shot in that frustrating close-up/shakey-cam style where you can't actually see any of it, the angles are never wide enough for any clarity, granted some of the cast Reeves and Moss particularly are getting up there in age but then innovate the action to still make it interesting.

Ultimately it's telling that only one of the two Wachowskis returned, Lana, with Lily explicitly saying she wants to move forward in her career not back. And within the narrative itself Lana seems to make excuses for the movie itself, a character states that Warner is going to make a Matrix sequel with or without them(in reference to the fictitious video game which stands in for the original trilogy of films). 

To be fair there are some interesting ideas going on and it's a pleasure to see the cast return and to revisit this world but there is simply too much relying on the past, not enough inspiration and verve behind the project, for it to break the wave of franchise reboot fatigue.

Currently in theaters and streaming on HBO Max.

Stream It.