The already labeled “pro-AI” movie is here. Is this really the message that “Mercy” delivers? The answer is easily no.

The film follows a captive detective who must prove his innocence to an AI judge within 90 minutes while on trial for the murder of his wife.

A Timely Warning

Many critics have argued that “Mercy” sends the wrong message in a time of uncertainty surrounding artificial intelligence. In reality, the film is actually a warning.

Exploring the ethical implications of this technology and how AI can be abused by institutions of power, “Mercy” highlights the importance of human ingenuity. While much of the exploration of these ideas is surface-level, the movie is by no means endorsing AI.

Taking a fact-versus-gut approach, it is able to explore how human minds and AI can never be interchanged. It can be used as a tool by people to do good. And to do bad.

Director Timur Bekmambetov often examines the idea in stereotypical fashion. But that doesn’t make it any less timely.

With a snappy 101-minute runtime, the movie wastes no time. It throws the audience into a scenario and sticks with it without wavering. “Mercy” deserves credit for this. It takes place in a single location, yet is able to integrate various settings in unique ways.

The film had the potential to feel stale because of its limited scope. However, the constant dialogue, action and reveals keep it entertaining.

The visual approach works in its favor as well. “Mercy” progresses through traffic cameras, body-cam footage and more. It develops its own style in doing so.

Performances Under Pressure

Chris Pratt (Detective Chris Raven) and Rebecca Ferguson (Judge Maddox) are a big reason that the movie works. Their dynamic is fascinating at times and cliché in others, but the actors always manage to bring the conversations to life.

Pratt excels in playing a man under pressure – talking sporadically and reeking of desperation. At the same time, he’s oftentimes calm and collected as well. He balances the quiet and angry aspects of his character effectively.

Ferguson’s job is simple: look directly into the camera and deliver line after line of calculated dialogue. She does just that. It’s a surprisingly memorable performance, as Ferguson brings a sort of sassiness and coldness to the AI judge.

When Spectacle Takes Over

While “Mercy” does move quickly, it’s hard not to feel like it drags in moments. There are an assortment of subplots that eventually lead to exaggerated third-act reveals. For a man who only has 90 minutes to defend himself, he sure wastes a lot of time.

Spoiler alert: “Mercy” has a literal 90-minute countdown to remind the audience how much time is left. This adds to the tension, but also contributes to dissatisfaction in some of the slower plot progressions.

Over the final 30 minutes, “Mercy” turns into a generic action-thriller. And this isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

The film jolts up the intensity and favors spectacle over thematics. This may disappoint some viewers, but it’s obvious this is where the movie is heading.

“Mercy” is the “pro-AI” movie that isn’t pro-AI. Many will be quick to judge. Few will actually give it a fair chance. This is an entertaining popcorn flick that isn’t trying to be anything else.

Rating: 3 out of 5