THE ARRIVAL

The Arrival takes a provocative question—who is responsible for global warming?—and gives it a science-fiction answer: aliens are changing the earth’s climate. Charlie Sheen plays Zane Zaminski, a techie who follows an alien signal and tries to expose the conspiracy.

The movie is played with determination. Sheen brings aplomb and grit, and the supporting performances stand up to the silly premise. The film also promotes exposing the truth and sexual abstinence, which gives its central conflict a moral direction.

But the movie does not fully deliver the kind of exciting earth-versus-monsters adventure its premise suggests. It should be more tongue in cheek, and its climax feels anticlimactic. The result is more scolding than showdown.

So, see it at home if the premise interests you, where your family can discuss and manage the content.

Zane Zaminski operates a satellite dish searching the universe for signs of intelligent life. After receiving what he believes is an alien signal, he seeks support from his superior—but instead loses his job.

Determined to investigate on his own, Zane gets help from a little buddy named Kiki and rigs a huge antenna. His search leads him to Mexico, a burned-down radio station, and a policeman who looks like his former superior. Zane must determine what is happening before the aliens’ plan goes further.

Three stars means this is a solid but uneven science-fiction thriller. The Arrival takes its alien conspiracy theory to a logical conclusion, and Charlie Sheen plays Zane with determination, aplomb, and grit. The supporting roles also stand up well to the film’s silly premise.

The main weakness is tonal and structural. The story should be more tongue in cheek, given the outlandish setup. Its climax also feels anticlimactic, leaving the film to end more as a scolding than as an earth-versus-the-monsters spectacle.

The film promotes exposing the truth and sexual abstinence. Zane’s determination to uncover the aliens’ intentions gives the story a moral interest: deception should be challenged, and people should not surrender their convictions simply because the powerful dismiss them.

The source review does not provide a fuller analysis of what the film believes about humanity, God, or the environment. The film’s central concern is that aliens are changing the earth’s climate, but the review does not explain whether that concern is treated as stewardship, political warning, or merely science-fiction premise.

Scripture commends truthfulness and calls believers to sexual holiness: “For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality” (1 Thessalonians 4:3).

The Arrival has determined performances, a memorable premise, and a moral interest in truth and sexual abstinence. Its content and anticlimactic finish make it better suited to a home viewing than a trip to the theater. Our answer is WAIT FOR HOME. For another choice, see.