It is a curiosity that Greenland 2: Migration is simultaneously a hopeful and dystopian film. I found Greenland 2 working to be deeper and more meditative on this family's great crisis. I wonder though if by now, people would rather watch action over meditation.
It has been five years since the asteroid Clarke has destroyed much of Earth. There are pockets of survivors throughout the world. Some eke out a living on the surface despite the radiation. Some have survived in bunkers. In the latter group is the Garrity family. Garrity patriarch John (Gerard Butler) goes to the surface often in search of supplies or potential survivors. His wife, Allison (Morena Baccarin) is one of the leaders at Thule Airbase in Greenland, where they took refuge all those years ago. They diabetic son, Nathan (Roman Griffith Davis) attempts to live life the best that he can. He likes a girl. He sneaks off onto the surface. He is not happy on Thule.
Fortunately, or not, a sudden earthquake destroys Thule and forces everyone to flee. The Garrity family manages to board a small, abandoned rescue ship along with others. Their eventual goal is to reach the Clarke Crater in France. Here, the Earth is rumored to be growing again. However, in this case, getting there is not half the fun.
First stop is Liverpool, where one of their compatriots is killed when he cannot produce an identity pass and attempts to enter their base anyway. Now, it's off to London to reunite with Mackenzie Matthews (Sophie Thompson). She is an old friend of Allison who has been caring for Alzheimer's patients. She gives them a car and warning to drive through Dover to cross the English Channel. Great Britain is a dangerous place, full of marauders. They take out their friend, Dr. Casey Amina (Amber Rose Revah).
The Garrity family is surprised to find that the English Channel is now filled with land. There are still many dangers to cross to get into France. Fortunately, they come across Denis Laurent (William Abadie), a Frenchman who has managed to survive on the surface. He gives them information about the war going on between those defending the Clarke Crater and those determined to force their way in. He also begs them to take his daughter Camille (Nelia Valery Da Costa) with them. An old family friend is a commander with the troops. There are still many dangers before they can get near the Clarke Crater. Not all will survive, but will their journey be in vain or is there hope yet for the world?
I neither loved nor disliked the first Greenland. It was not a great film. It was not a particularly entertaining film. It was a curious hybrid of action and contemplation. Still, I thought well enough of it to think slightly well of Greenland. Greenland 2: Migration is pretty much in the exact same category as its predecessor.
I did not love it. I did not hate it. I found it aiming for something deeper and richer. It did not always hit that mark. However, I cannot fault a film for at least trying. I was surprised that Greenland 2: Migration is actually almost a half hour shorter than Greenland. My surprise comes from the fact that Greenland 2 gives us a lot of things going on. There are tidal waves. There are earthquakes. There are many deaths going all around.
That, I think, is why Greenland 2 failed at the box office. For all the Sturm und Drang of this dying world, the film was quite fond of killing side characters. We are introduced to such figures as Adam Shaw (Trond Fausa Aurvag), Obi (Ken Nwuso) and Dr. Amina. Each of them is killed off once they do whatever Mitchell LaFortune and Chris Sparling's screenplay needed them to do. Greenland 2 failed to see what has doomed other films: you cannot ask audiences to feel emotion for characters we barely know. It becomes almost a bit of a running gag: as soon as someone encounters the Garrity family, they have a high chance of ending up dead.
Even those who somehow manage to survive this cursed family somehow are just there. I cannot recall if Mackenzie is from the last movie. Even if she were, her appearance adds up to very little.
Greenland 2 had some dodgy visual effects that would not be out of place on a SyFy Channel feature. The acting too was similarly limited. One never thinks of Gerard Butler as a dramatic actor. He is a big, burly Scotsman. I will give him credit for making a greater effort to make John's plight and concern for his family something to move audiences with. I think this is one of Butler's better performances. Is it a great performance? Probably not. It is, however, a good one. Monica Baccarin looked less than enthused at being there. I was not convinced that she wanted to be there. Baccarin looked as if she was going through the motions. In fairness, the part was not the greatest for her, so I cut her some slack. Roman Griffin Davis did well as Nathan. I think that he was not given much to do, but he acquitted himself well here.
Director Ric Roman Waugh got everyone through this serviceable production. The acting was acceptable. The pacing was steady. The visual effects worked though nothing spectacular. David Buckley's score matched the dour, morose world of Greenland 2. That also applies to Martin Ahlgren's cinematography.
Greenland 2: Migration is a bit despairing about the world. It tries to give the viewer hope at the end. However, so much misery and death and chaos was thrown at us that it becomes a bit too heavy for viewers. I appreciated everyone's efforts. I do not necessarily see why we needed a Greenland 2. I, however, did not hate the film. It is fine enough but nothing that will have us calling out for a Greenland 3.
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