The Pod Generation (2023)

Film review #683

Director: Sophie Barthes

SYNOPSIS: In the near future, a young couple decide to undertake a pregnancy using an artificial womb. Adjusting to the pregnancy, they find that even with a womb that they can leave on it’s own, pregnancy still creates a number of problems to overcome…

THOUGHTS/ANALYSIS: The Pod Generation is a 2023 sci-fi film. Set in the near-future of New York, a young couple decide to have a child, but do so using an artificial womb that they can carry around, which presents it’s own issues and quirks. The film has a mild comedic tone as it pokes fun at over-intrusive artificial intelligence and marketing speak. Throughout the film, various issues arise that provide mild inconveniences to the main characters, and…that’s it really. Throughout the entire film, all the issues that arise are resolved simply or simply glossed over; there is next to no conflict to explore the themes of the film. You’ll quickly notice how completely opposite the couple are: Rachel (Emilia Clarke) to adopt new technology, while Alvy (Chiwetel Ejiofor) prefers nature and the natural world that is easily forgotten in this future. They seem completely incompatible as a couple, yet any disagreement barely comes to anything. Throughout the runtime, there’s nothing that really builds up and becomes the main focal point or issue that ties things together, and it really feels like the film wanders around lost and without purpose. There’s a constant feeling that the film is poking fun at the marketing ploys of companies that try and constantly over-empathise and humanise themselves, but never provides any robust challenge to them: it just shrugs it’s shoulders and moves on. By the time the film ends, I think the final note is that none of the silly trivial moments of pregnancy matter when it’s over and you’re holding your baby, but translating that to the whole of the film makes every issue it raised pointless as well.

While the film has a good cast, nice sets and design, nothing really sticks as the film goes round and round, and while characters change their outlooks on things, it never sticks or changes the dynamic of the film. I just felt like the whole film was toothless: it needed something to happen or to make a statement in order to make everything stick; but it just never comes. Maybe they don’t want to frighten away more casual moviegoers with a more prevalent sci-fi warning I’m not sure, but The Pod Generation never reaches any kind of intellectual or comedic high to make a lasting impact, and wastes a good idea and cast with a very meandering script.