By Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)
Well GO USA
Coming to Digital
December 18, 2020
The Intergalactic Adventures of Max Cloud joins the long line of films that transports an unwilling hero into a video game world. What makes this movie different is that Sarah (Isabelle Allen) wished for it and a mysterious lady from outer space shows up to grant it! Oddly, she can’t control Jake, the digital male avatar her spirit occupies. Her best friend Cowboy (Franz Drameh) has to play the game to see how this program ends.
When this video game character is the ship’s cook, I wondered how this particular zero becomes a hero. Sarah is no different. She’s a recluse, and this adventure helps her come out of her shell. Plus, we see some character development between her and this boy, which turns into love. Thankfully, this distraction isn’t part of the tale. Instead, it’s in how these two real life individuals have to work together to help video game characters Jake (Elliot James Langridge), Max (Scott Adkins) and Rexy (Sally Collett) to prevent Revengor’s (John Hannah) army from taking over their spaceship. It’s the only means of escape for everyone on the prison planet!
Max is the hero, and I detect a touch of Zapp Brannigan (Futurama) in Scott’s portrayal of this character. This actor is clearly having fun and worth every chuckle when he tries to take the glory. Adkins gets to show off his fighting prowess, which is always a pleasure to see. Even Elliot shows off a touch of his feminine side. The humour is not too overdone and ultimately it’s the spacecraft’s female commander who has a secret to help win the game.
The representation of genres ranges from side scroller to first-person shooter to fighter. Instead of going retro with 80s style, the era is more 90s. Plus, the homage is not entirely with games either. The set design is in line with early Flash Gordon serials. Revengor and his minions’ ineptitude feel very much inspired by the hilarity found with Skeletor in He-Man and Masters of the Universe. Plus, this villain’s aide is Shee, an evil sorceress who is as powerful as Evil Lyn.
The pulpy feel is terrific. I have to ask if creator, writer and director Martin Owen will have more planned or if this film is it. Much like how Star Wars: Empire Strikes Back introduced Boba Fett, this film delivers with Brock Donnelly, as seen in the poster (left), a character I like to know more next!
4 Stars out of 5
