Release Date – 8th May 2025, Cert – 18, Run-time – 1 hour 55 minutes, Director – Fleur Fortuné
Scientists Mia (Elizabeth Olsen) and Aaryan (Himesh Patel) hope to pass the 7-day parenthood assessment, however official Virginia (Alicia Vikander) puts them through much more than expected as a test for a child becomes a test on the couple’s relationship.
The Assessment would be a much better film if it were to play as an out-and-out comedy. This isn’t to say that the subject and themes are best suited to a comedy, although that could be the case when seeing which scenes play out best. When leaning into comedy and humour the film is undeniably at its best and flows quickest. A scene involving Alicia Vikander’s government official Virginia crawling around a dinner party table behaving like a toddler, and the reactions of those around her – especially Minnie Driver who only appears briefly but brilliantly chews up the scenery as soon as she appears on screen – are undeniably funny.
Virginia’s behaviour switches immediately from formal to childlike as soon as the assessment of scientists Mia (Elizabeth Olsen) and Aaryan (Himesh Patel) begins. In a future where who can and can’t have children is under government control, they must pass a seven-day test in order to be given approval to be parents to their own baby. However, as the test goes on Virginia’s behaviour not only tests the couple’s parenting abilities but also the strength of their relationship as a whole. Her behaviour, and enjoyable performance, would undoubtedly fit in better in a full comedy instead of a sci-fi influenced dramedy. This is until the turns of the second half where certain character decisions simply feel uncomfortable and unnecessary.
The themes and ideas of the film are clear throughout with subtext not being a full item on the agenda, despite the initial implications of the look and setting of the dystopian future house the couple live in – slightly plucked out of a 60s view of the future. As the drama grows in the latter stages of the narrative darker character interactions begin to emerge which deviate from the initial thread of the film. Much of the events begin to feel like an extended epilogue rather than a rounding off the story and as a whole a film that avoided feeling like a trudge because of its humour becomes stony-faced and humourless – starting to feel as if it believes it’s saying and doing more than the upfront elements.
At just under two-hours this is a long assessment, particularly because of the drawn out nature of the third act and just how much it wants to get show in that time as an explanation to what we’ve seen beforehand. As character interactions become more heated and confrontational the film itself loses steam as things deviate from the initial ideas which work well enough, if somewhat basically at times. There’s a likable nature in the first half, and in some moments afterwards, when it appears to have a more playful nature, and is aware that one of its key players is acting like a (albeit aging) child.
Starting off as a likable dramedy, helped by performances which understand the comedic elements, The Assessment dips off the more dramatic it gets. Working until multiple tangents cause it to become a different, less successful, film which doesn’t say as much as it perhaps wants to.
Just A Little Bit Random 