‘Tron: Ares’ – Technically riveting, ordinary narrative

I’ve never been the world’s biggest Tron fan. I’ve never found the Grid a particularly interesting world to visit, and although I love a good light cycle race as much as the next man, it’s never been a series I’m excited to revisit. That said, I can’t help but respect it. Its contributions to cinema are undeniable, and as our world becomes more dependent on technology, it’s proven to be ahead of its time.

Safe to say then that my mentality going into Tron: Ares was largely indifferent. This time, instead of taking humans into the virtual world, the inhabitants of the virtual world are brought into reality. It’s the natural next step for the story, and therein lies some of the problem. Tron: Ares is a film that feels obligatory, with a narrative that’s predictable and more than a little pedestrian in its execution.

Take Ares themselves, for example. Jared Leto’s portrayal of a malfunctioning programme that learns to love feels painfully unoriginal. The character’s development is dull, trudging along without any real emotional impact. Arnold’s Terminator evoked more feeling in a single scene – descending into a vat of molten metal – than Tron: Ares manages in its entire runtime. The one saving grace is Jodie Turner-Smith, whose portrayal of a software grappling with inner conflict is far more compelling than that of the lead.

The human protagonist of the film is Greta Lee’s Eve, whose motivations oppose those of Evan Peters’ Julian Dillinger. The two are rival CEOs in a digital arms race, each seeking to acquire the permanence code – the missing piece of data that prevents any object or person brought into the real world from depreciating after 29 minutes. Peters is sufficiently villainous, driven by a desire to revolutionise weapons of war, while Lee is sanctimoniously intent on solving world hunger and curing cancer. Their characters are unremarkably one-note, with Peters’ Dillinger only showing depth when threatened.

Tron: Ares may not be the most moving film, but it is incredibly good at motion. The whizzing by of impossible vehicles as they leave behind a trail of hard light is stunning to look at. The film spares no expense on its visuals, nor its sound design. If judged by its story and characters, Tron: Ares doesn’t inspire a journey to cinemas. Yet the spectacle it offers is worthy of it. If you can check out of the narrative and enjoy the sights, by all means, take the trip, but as a whole, you’re probably better off staying in.

Rating: Catch it on cable.

Damian Levy is a film critic and podcaster for Damian Michael Movies

entertainment@gleanerjm.com