Serenity: A Cult Classic That’s Not for Everyone
Despite its dazzling special effects, epic space battles, galactic voyages, psychic adventures, brawls, and shootouts, Joss Whedon’s Serenity (2005) isn’t your typical sci-fi flick. While anyone can watch it, not everyone will grasp the full depth of enjoyment it offers. This film has earned a “cult classic” label, and rightfully so, because it’s a movie lover’s movie.
The Story Unveiled
Deep within the Alliance’s clandestine facilities, experiments are conducted on children. River Tam (Summer Glau) stands out with her extraordinary predictive abilities. Her brother, Simon (Sean Maher), a skilled medic, rescues her and goes into hiding. Hot on their trail is an Alliance operative (Chiwetel Ejiofor). He quickly tracks them to the spaceship Serenity, but the ship has a life of its own. It’s captained by Malcolm Reynolds (Nathan Fillion), a former officer of the defeated Independent army. Together with his ragtag crew (Adam Baldwin, Gina Torres, Alan Tudyk, Jewel Staite), they navigate the fringes of space, engaging in heists, rescuing planets from bandits, and generally causing mayhem. The Alliance agent finds himself caught up in their chaotic world, forced to play a high-stakes game of cat and mouse.
A Western in Space
The film’s exposition unfolds rapidly, mirroring the pace of this description. Why? Firstly, Serenity is a continuation of Whedon’s TV series Firefly (2002), featuring the same cast. The series meticulously established the setting, characters, and mechanics, allowing the film to jump right into the action. The dialogue is sharp and witty. Secondly, Firefly draws heavily from the American Western genre. This is where the film’s true appeal lies. Without this Western foundation, it would be just another space opera.
We’ve seen blaster fights and psychic girls before, but the Western influence elevates Serenity. The characters and relationships are reminiscent of classic Westerns by John Ford, Howard Hawks, and John Sturges.
Captain Reynolds is akin to a defeated Confederate soldier in post-Civil War Texas, working as a cowboy to aid Mexican rebels. He has a loyal, imposing enforcer, a steadfast Jewish mechanic, a young, adventurous engineer, and a trusted second-in-command. The gender swaps are a modern twist, but the core archetypes remain. He also has a distant love interest (Morena Baccarin) and faces enemies like the Reavers. The Alliance agent, misled by corrupt officials, is an unwelcome complication. But when the mystery leads to something akin to a former prisoner of war camp (Miranda), the Captain feels compelled to investigate. Every element of Serenity can be interpreted through the lens of Western tropes: forts, saloons, revolvers, and the frontier spirit.
Self-Aware and Ironic
This approach allows for a fast-paced, engaging plot. The film’s self-awareness extends to everything, from the Serenity’s aging design to the actors’ performances. The film mocks the seriousness of other sci-fi franchises. There’s nothing grandiose or unknowable about space in this world. The film winks at how “alien” and “star wars” can muddle people’s minds. The real fun lies in how much space opera the film can satirize and how accurately it can translate Western elements into a sci-fi setting.
A Few Shortcomings
Nathan Fillion, while charismatic, doesn’t quite reach the iconic status of Western stars like John Wayne or James Stewart. The film also pulls its punches a bit, perhaps saving the more brutal aspects for potential sequels. There are minor plot inconsistencies as well. But overall, Serenity is a funny and endearing film.