While watching Parallels, there was a moment where my boredom of its modern sci-fi cliches turned into fascination, and my fascination turned into genuine suspense. In the first act, I hated everyone I was watching on screen. Not because of their moral fiber, but because they felt wooden. By the end of act two, I was rooting for all of them.
From director Christopher Leone, Parallels is an inventive, funny sci-fi romp that will piss you off because it ends on an incredible high note with a promise for more. In its climactic last few minutes, Parallels overcomes all limitations indicative of genre shows like it that snarky viewers regularly poke at and exhibits an incredible, epic scope that could make it a future sci-fi classic. But like my dad saying he’d bring me to a Yankee game, it will be a promise that will go unfulfilled.
Ronan (Mark Hapka) and Beatrix Carver (Jessica Rothe) are estranged siblings reunited by a phone call from their elusive, secretive father Alex Carver (Yorgo Constantine). Joined by goofy friend Harold (Eric Jungman, you’ll know him as that guy from Not Another Teen Movie), they explore an abandoned, graffiti-laced building that serves as a conduit to parallel Earths. At 36-hour intervals, the building “jumps” to another Earth, the planet changing societies and histories right outside the window. Later joined by a mysterious woman from another Earth, the wise-cracking and oddly seductive Polly (Constance Wu, in a show-stealing performance) Ronan and Beatrix seek to find their father before the crazed Tinker (Michael Monks), a survivor from another Earth that underwent a nuclear holocaust caused by Alex, exacts his revenge
This website has “geek” in its very name so I’m safely assuming you understand the idea of parallel universes. It’s like DC’s Crisis on Infinite Earths, except no one here wears spandex. But that’s the crux of Parallels: exploring wildly different Earths where maybe it was bombed to shit, or Google is called Shmoogle, or are exactly the same as ours “except for one less mosquito.”
There’s an unknown, infinite number of Earths and if you think exploring them would make for a great TV show, you’d be right! Parallels was created as a television pilot, but Fox Digital Studios morphed it into a stand-alone movie. Knowing this and seeing how the “film” ends is maddening, because the very premise lends itself to something larger than just a 90-minute genre movie. Every character’s arc, however interesting or boring you may find them, is left unfulfilled and unfinished. The cliffhanger tease left me breathless and wanting more, and I nearly punched my TV in a futile rage. Knowing Parallels was a TV pilot leaves me unsure if it helps or hurts enjoying it.
But you should view it! It’s worth watching for the performances alone, which take a 180 turn as it enters the second act. The first act was nauseating, where cliches are hit like Guitar Hero notes. You know what conventional roles they fulfill and they’re boring until Polly enters the party. Kudos to Ms. Wu, her presence alters the chemistry and she practically show-steals the whole movie. Her sharp comedic timing that you see on Fresh Off the Boat is on full display in Parallels, and she has the most laugh-out-loud worthy one-liners. If there’s literally any reason to watch Parallels, it’s so you can see a little more Wu if you’re caught up on Fresh Off the Boat.
That’s not to discount movie leads Mark Hapka, Jessica Rothe, or even Eric Jungmann either. In the first act this gang is boring — or in Jungmann’s case, annoying — but as performers they remain grounded and believable throughout and they soon win your affection. Ronan is a typical, white-guy brooding loner seen in thousands of other movies, but Hapka gives him weight and even peppers him with some great moments of comedy. Ditto for Jessica Rothe, who plays Beatrix well with enough subtle laughs that will make you chuckle.
Eric Jungmann as goofy friend Harold starts out exactly to fill that role: the goofy friend. And roll your eyes you will. But towards the end of the film, Harold becomes a real champ after a wonderful character moment that wins your heart.
I can’t talk about the ending enough. I just can’t. Gripping, visceral and ending on a real intense crescendo, however bored you may be of Parallels you will flare with anger by the end credits because you are not getting more. I ask again, does knowing it would have been a TV series help or hurt Parallels?
Parallels is worth watching for many reasons, not the least of which is the promise of what could have been. I’ve written on this site before that roads less traveled are always fascinating to me, and Parallels almost being a TV show makes me wonder what episode two and three and four would have been like. It’s almost eerie how easy you can imagine it too, as the film’s cinematography and direction looks straight out of a FOX serial drama. Leone’s direction nor the film’s photography are exemplary or inventive, and as a film the efforts almost come off as lazy. But as television, it works. Imagine that FOX channel watermark in the corner and you get the picture.
As a stand-alone film, Parallels disappoints. It has a rough start as a low-budget, cliche sci-fi with not enough action to satisfy, and the cliffhanger ending feels cheap and uninspired. But framed in your head as a true TV pilot and I would bet my life savings you would be scheduling Parallels on your DVR if you could. You will love the characters and the questions left unanswered make you want more.
Parallels as a movie gets 2 out 5 stars. Parallels as a theoretical series gets 100 out of 5 stars. Petition to make this a Netflix-exclusive series? Sign me up.
Parallels is available for streaming now on Netflix. It will be available on all major VOD platforms March 31.