I absolutely got caught up in the hype over this release. More so, being released to a platform like Netflix making it very accessible. Other films in the franchise underwent just as much cloak and dagger treatment as this installment did. The first trailer shown during the Super Bowl was the same night it was available for viewers.

Initially what I saw in the movie forums was love and adoring praise for Paradox and I went into it with gusto. Within the first 15 minutes, my enthusiasm was already waning. This movie is sloppy. The characters were a mash of incoherence that I guess comes from working on a failing particle accelerator for over two years, but was annoying none-the-less. Punches are haphazardly thrown over stupid things. Does anyone know any first-aid procedures because I am unsure staring is among them?

While I wanted to appreciate Mundy's (Chris O'Dowd) comedic banter, it seemed to wear thin quickly. I may have smiled but I didn't laugh. Volkov (Aksel Hennie) makes a gun out of a 3D printer but everyone is completely baffled by its appearance on the ship. Does anyone know what the machines on the craft do? Mundy seems pretty handy with a futuristic filler gun to mend the broken panels yet everyone is totally bewildered when a weapon is produced on board using other fancy techs.

I began to draw comparisons to 'Life' 2017 where somehow space travel requires brain function at a minimum. And while I love the myriad of homages for things like Evil Dead II, Another Earth, Alien, and alternative universes, I was unable to get past the dialogue and face-palm-inducing acting from some of the cast. I liked Life though. Don’t hate me, but I do.

I really did like the alternate universe sub-plot. I wish there had been some play with that, rather than just a warning they shouldn't do it And some video-images, None of them really know the rules so how would they really know whether or not it would have actually been a terrible mistake?

My last gripe is Jensen (Elizabeth Debecki.) I think wondering what was her deal, lasted a full 35 seconds. Was she grateful she'd been saved from within the electrical circuitry? No! She threw enough shade at everyone, the ship should have been in total darkness. Even when she hugged Hamilton (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) she seemed suspicious. Maybe she has a case of resting-suspicious-face, but she may as well have worn a mustache and seen off-camera giving an evil chuckle.

J.J. Abrams has produced the Cloverfield series and I am left wondering what his end game is now. I guess 2 out of 3 that went well isn't much to complain about. There is still hope the 4th installment will redeem itself.

I can only hope.

I give The Cloverfield Paradox 2.5 larger monsters in Paradox out of 5.