Go and watch The Creator, and you’ll see a film that is full of ingenuity. It dares to take on the most overwrought worry of our times (AI) with what could be seen as a fresh perspective from far away.

However, look closer, and we’ll start to see the familiar beats. A world-weary protagonist, an innocent child wielding an unknown future and thrilling cyberpunk imagery.

It’s a question you can get rather bored by. “Is it original?” Generally, the framing of this question is a way to take down works. ‘Is Asteroid City original in a world that has enjoyed Wes Anderson‘s quirks for nearly three decades?’ These sorts of questions are designed to make us view something through a framing device that doesn’t exist. There is no such thing as true originality.

Yet, the question comes up throughout The Creator. Shades of Ex-Machina, Blade Runner, and pretty much a rundown of all the greatest sci-fi hits. At points, this jars you out of the moment as you roll your eye at the superficiality, but then there are moments where it comes together just right.

The Creator is uneven, a little long and feels like it was made with a ‘good enough’ attitude. It looks beautiful and is bursting with creativity, but it never really lifts off. Plenty has been said about John David Washington. Is he charismatic enough to helm this sort of film? I’m not sure he is, but the supporting actors don’t offer much here, either. He might be best suited to larger ensembles than in the spotlight alone. 

The positives of the film all fall on Gareth Edwards’ shoulders. From Monsters to this, he’s had an uneven time in the industry, but he’s made the best of what he’s given. He does the same here. It’s just a bit of a shame that as the credits roll, you feel a bit short-changed.