Aeon Flux Parent Guide

Four hundred years in the future, the existence of the human species is hanging by a thread. And only one woman—who has a penchant for skin-tight outfits and supreme yoga positions—is able to put things right. Aeon Flux (Charlize Theron) is a tough rebel-fighting woman who can handle multiple attackers, while at the same time maintaining a low profile existence in what is supposedly the last city on Earth.

After a viral plague wiped out most of the world’s population in 2011, Trevor and Oren Goodchild (Marton Csokas and Jonny Lee Miller) designed the community. Called Bregna, the sibling scientists built a protective perimeter wall and populated the fortress with the few remaining humans. Here they have lived their lives for the last seven generations in what appears to be idyllic circumstances. But like most sci-fi films, things aren’t always as wonderful as they appear.

Referred to as the “Goodchild Regime,” the government is seen as responsible for the mysterious disappearances of many people, along with other—not clearly explained—strange happenings. Says Aeon, “We have traded our freedoms in exchange for a gilded cage.” Hoping to find a way to change the oppressive controls, she is a top operative in an underground resistance group known as the Monicans. But her methods become more radical after heavy-handed forces take her sister’s life. Now motivated to kill, she is given a very important job: Assassinate Trevor Goodchild.

Oozing with girl-power, this movie (based on a series of animated shorts that originated fifteen years ago on MTV) appears to be a stretch for Theron… and her costumes. With barely a lick of humor during its 90-minute running time, the flexible female struts her stuff with the same expression on her face in every frame. Hanging the entire production on her shoulders, it’s no wonder her performance sometimes comes up a little short. The script isn’t much help either. Although it offers a couple of nice surprise turns, it also suffers from some major holes that make it difficult to buy into the premise.

Nonetheless, teens will likely be wowed by Theron’s tough sexy image, which is given ample screen time as she snakes her body through various security barriers and other obstacles. She finds time for a couple of sexual encounters as well, which portray some back nudity. However, violent content is the biggest concern with dozens of people being shot, attacked in hand-to-hand combat, and killed with falling debris. Bloodied wounds are seen at various times, and Aeon shows off her surgical skills when she uses her fingers to dig bullets out of another person.

Questing the idea of immortality versus the inevitability of death, Aeon Flux does present some points to ponder. Yet with most of the film focusing on Theron doing her best to be an action superhero, there is just a little too much flux and not enough solid material.

About author

Rod Gustafson

Rod Gustafson has worked in various media industries since 1977. He founded Parent Previews in 1993, and today continues to write and broadcast the reviews in newspapers, on radio and (of course) on the Internet. His efforts also include writing and researching media in all its forms and observing how it effects society and culture. He and his wife Donna have four children.