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Twenty-eight years after the original Tron was released, Jeff Bridges returns as Kevin Flynn, a computer whiz who basically invented cyberspace — a world within microchips where people are called ‘programs’ and ‘users’ are akin to gods. He’s been trapped in this other world for many years, but in Tron: Legacy, his son (Garrett Hedlund) follows the breadcrumbs into the computer world to find him.
The father/son storyline gives Tron: Legacy more human emotion than the first film ever had, culminating in a family reunion half-way through the movie. There’s also a nifty love interest for Hedlund, played by Olivia Wilde. Her character is what Flynn calls a ‘miracle’ — a living thing born out of cyberspace without human intervention. When the three of them decide to make a run for the portal to the real world, the militaristic computer denizens pursue them. The stakes are raised when Flynn and his son discover that the cyberspace armies intend to go through the portal, too — bringing their authoritarian terror with them. The movie gets less interesting as this plot clouds over the father/son relationship.
Though the plot gets tedious in the second half, Tron: Legacy still succeeds as a unique cinematic experience. The body-hugging, neon-trimmed costumes and surreal landscapes combine in a sexy, alluring way. Daft Punk’s innovative score is at turns throbbing, meditative, and ecclesiastic — easily one of my favorite scores of the past twenty-five years. Hedlund makes for an attractive lead, though a more charismatic actor might have carried this film to greater heights. Bridges is more austere and reserved than we’re used to in this movie, but he’s always a welcome addition to any film.
That is, until the film tries to digitally de-age and duplicate Bridges. The singe-worst thing about Tron: Legacy is the plentiful use of de-aging done to turn Bridges into a second character named Clu, the primary villain of the piece. (It’s also used to de-age Flynn in an opening flashback.) It’s ugly, highly unconvincing animation that reminds one of the soulless, dead-eyed look of the characters in The Polar Express. It needs to be re-done if this film is to have much of a shelf-life.
Michael Sheen hams it up in a fun supporting role and Bruce Boxleitner makes a welcome return, even it’s just for a couple of scenes. A mixed bag overall, Tron: Legacy has one powerful thing going for it. There’s nothing else like it. It has a vibe all of its own. All problems aside, I have to hear Daft Punk and see those neon lights from time to time. It’s an especially fun movie to watch in 3D.
Directed by Joseph Kosinski (Top Gun: Maverick, F1: The Movie).
Oscar Nominee: Sound Editing