I’ve never read the book, but when Z for Zachariah came out, I almost rushed to the theaters to see it for two reasons. First, I love a good apocalypse. Second, I love Chiwetel Ejiofor. I did not see it because of lukewarm reviews and Chris Pine, whom I have nothing against, but for me, he isn’t exactly a box office draw. I still had not seen The Wolf of Wall Street, but if I had, Margot Robbie, who plays the titular character’s trophy, sexpot wife, may have broken the tie and swayed me to see Z for Zachariah in theaters.
Z for Zachariah is about Ann, a teen girl (yeah, right), who lives in a natural safe zone protected from radiation and chemical poisoning that has destroyed the rest of the world. She wasn’t always alone, but her family left to look for survivors and never came back. Then a person appears. A man! John is ideal in some ways (he is technologically knowledgeable and seems to genuinely care about her emotional vulnerability instead of accepting her sexual overtures) and awful in others (he is an angry drunk and dismissive of Ann’s priorities when he wants attention). Just when they are beginning to get close, Capt. Kirk, I mean, Chris Pine, who plays Caleb, stops lurking in the shadows. He seems to have more in common with Ann, but he seems to use religion more as a way to divide Ann from John. The dudes do nothing, but give each other the side eye until…..
Z for Zachariah initially reminded me of, but lacked the same emotional impact or investment in the characters, animals and environment as Die Wand or The Wall. Z for Zachariah’s story seemed slight. Though Z for Zachariah clearly intended to convey that even with few people, human relationships without complications or unintentional hurt feelings is impossible, it felt less like a meditation on the nature of humanity and more like a contrived love triangle. Also I know that Christians are DTF as much as anyone, but Ann seemed more eager than her character as portrayed would otherwise be. It is an empty house, Ann. The sink!?! The sink!?! Who is going to fix it if it breaks off the wall! Stop thinking with your pants, Ann! You can’t ask John to fix it. I feel like The Last Man on Earth did a better job dealing with sex and the apocalypse, and it is a sitcom.
If you’re a fan of the cast, see Z for Zachariah, otherwise skip it. Come for the apocalypse, leave for the hasty entanglements.