Infinite Review: Junk Sci-fi

The Infinite is the worst (so far) among Mark Walhberg’s mediocre offerings.

The premise: A group of reincarnated warriors called the “Infinites” are locked in a centuries-old war. The group is divided into two factions: the “Believers” who want to “dedicate their knowledge for protection and growth of all humanity”. Against them are the “Nihilists”, “who see the power as a curse”.

It’s a done-to-death concept that reminds you of “Highlander” with whiffs of The Old Gaurd, Assassins Creed, and “The Matrix”.  But no one walks into a Walhberg movie expecting more than disposable entertainment.

The movie starts off with a basic explanation and an elaborate chase sequence with three Infinites “In the last life”, Mexico City. This ends poorly for the good guys and cuts to “In this life”, New York City. Both backdrops seem to be composed of stock images.

We’re introduced to Evan McCauley (Mark Walhberg), a nobody who’s struggling to pay his rent and get a job because of schizophrenia. McCauley has strange dreams of people and acquires their skills – a vision of a Japanese swordsmith enables him to forge a katana.

He eventually pings the radar of Infinites who are searching for an egg. The Believers recruit him, hoping he’s the reincarnation of a past Infinite who hid it. The Nihilists are after him, aiming to use the egg and end all human life to suspend reincarnation.

Unfortunately, despite the bevy of talent (sans Wahlberg), a blockbuster budget, and low expectations, Infinite is still a waste of time. The execution results in another bottom-barrel sci-fi such as Cosmic Sin, just with higher production value.

Infinite is created to kickstart a franchise yet bafflingly makes no effort in laying a decent foundation to make you interested in it. The script adds no dimensions to any of its characters, worldbuilding, and philosophy. The action and fight choreography are forgettable.

Walhberg frowns throughout the movie and explains the plot, going through the motions of a paycheck gig.

In one scene, he jumps on a wing of a plane by jumping off a cliff and riding a motorcycle. He suddenly activates his “powers” and walks to an unlocked hatch while the plane is crashing. Inside is a doomsday device containing the egg. Bathhurst is using the egg as a payload when he can just throw it at a crowded park and let it do its thing. But the movie isn’t here to make sense.

Infinite raises many questions that it doesn’t answer – How do you become an Infinite? Where are the other Nihilists? Why can’t the Believers develop their own tech to defeat them?

Ejiofor plays a Nihilist leader who’s been mentally traumatized by his reincarnations but hammy’s it up to 11 like a mustache-twirling villain. The cast is more committed to this movie than its script is to its characters.

On top of this are the numerous plot holes that appear like whack-a-mole. As soon as you spot one, another pops up.

The thrills aren’t much either. You get jarring editing, tacky visual effects, badly executed sequences, and generic fight choreography. You can watch any of the John Wick and Raid movies and you won’t miss a thing.

Infinite misguidedly wears its below-average offerings with confidence, assuming that because cinema is dominated by CGI spectacles, it’s enough to start a franchise.