Utopia (2024)

Utopia (2024)

A soldier searches for his missing wife and infiltrates a high-tech complex, convinced that she is there and believing she has been caught up in a human trafficking ring. But beyond these walls, he discovers a fantastical and alluring park – surreal and futuristic – where the line between reality and illusion blurs, drawing him into a deadly game where nothing is as it seems. As he navigates this enticing yet dangerous world, he uncovers a shocking truth.

There you go, I’ve included a very interesting synopsis… because it’s one of the few good things about this film!

In fact, the actors and actresses aren’t brilliant and give the impression of being in a bad TV film or B-movie. The only one I recognise is Jason Flemyng. You have to wonder what he’s doing there! I don’t like to admit that actors make films just for the money, but you have to face the facts. His charisma is still there, but he’s on screen for no more than ten minutes at a stretch.

Admittedly, there were moments I enjoyed, but the film is relatively boring, slow, a flop and rubbish.

Utopia is a film packed with very pretty young women, often scantily clad, whose every shape and curve is clearly on display. It’s entirely and solely a film to feast your eyes on. Yet another feature film that could be described as the fantasies of a frustrated director!

So, I started watching this film, and after about twenty minutes, I rang my girlfriend and asked her if she’d ever seen a film full of naked women that was actually brilliant. After a moment’s thought, she said ‘No!’ I carried on watching anyway, telling myself that maybe I’d stumble upon the exception!

Alas… spoilers… that’s not the case!!!

In fact, I don’t have particularly fond memories of all those films that spring to mind, such as Showgirls (1995), Striptease (1996), Coyote Ugly (2000) and even less so The Bikini Bandits (2002) or its sequel Bikini Bandits 2: Golden Rod. On the other hand, to my great surprise, I really enjoyed Nine (2009), even though the film begins with the best scene, which really should have been the last.

I won’t be including Basic Instinct (1992) on this list. It belongs among the great erotic thrillers. Utopia manages not to be particularly erotic, even though there are naked women everywhere. Nor does it manage to be a gripping thriller. We follow a man, this special forces soldier who, like a gentleman, turns down all the beautiful women who throw themselves at him. Above all, he is searching for his wife, who, however, no longer seems to recognise him.

Nothing exceptional! Neither the direction nor the screenplay. The leading actresses are more or less adequate. No one is outstanding. We’re a long way from any of my favourite actresses.

Nothing particularly original. They could have gone much further with the sets, but they must have run out of budget. Utopia isn’t the sort of film that’s likely to be a hit. Not even with fans of B-movies. It’ll find its audience amongst all those people who watch music videos just for the girls in them, or who buy books, magazines and records solely for the sexy woman posing on the cover.

I would have been so pleased not to have to write a review full of all these clichés, and I’d have hoped to see a film like this that stands out from the crowd and is actually really good. It’s nice to dream, isn’t it! If that rare gem does exist, please do let me know!

The grandiose music at the end, during the credits, made me smile. It gives the impression that we’ve just watched a powerful historical drama or a big-budget sci-fi film. We’re miles away from a peplum or a masterpiece. At this stage, this director will never get there.

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