Ice Cube’s War of the Worlds

Synopsis:

The movie starts with Ice Cube logging into his Department of Homeland Security work computer. He then makes calls to friends and family while using government resources to spy on them. The rest of the film unfolds from the perspective of Ice Cube’s desktop as he reacts to an alien invasion.

First Impressions:

After seeing clips on Instagram and noting how poorly it looked, because of this we decided to watch it. Our initial expectations were low, but this film managed to go even lower.

Plot Breakdown:

The plot takes a backseat to its abundant product placements. It follows a generic alien invasion template, layered with a data-privacy subplot—ironic considering it’s an Amazon Prime original.

Characters & Performances:

Ice Cube’s character displays the emotional range of a five-year-old, delivering gripping lines like “Damn” after witnessing what he believes is his son’s death. The supporting cast is so forgettable that their names and performances blur into oblivion.

Writing & Dialogue:

The writing is egregiously poor. The script introduces some of the most unlikable and unmemorable characters and dialogue we’ve ever encountered.

Direction & Pacing:

The pacing is uniformly dreadful. The film drags on slowly and dulls the senses, leaving you constantly wondering when this dumpster fire will finally end.

Cinematography & Visuals:

This is the movie’s weakest aspect—amazing given how much else fails—but the CGI and visuals take the cake. The Tripods look like it was created by blind gorillas on LSD with photos of the aliens from the 2005 War of the Worlds. It’s 2025; there’s no excuse for such abysmal effects.

Sound & Music:

I cannot recall a single piece of music, suggesting the score is neither good nor bad—just entirely unremarkable.

Best/Worst Moments:

Best Scene: The end credits

Worst Scene: The sequence where his daughter’s boyfriend pilots an Amazon delivery drone to deliver Ice Cube's character a USB stick

Most Unintentionally Funny Line: N/A

Final Verdict:

I had low expectations, yet this film still delivered a mediocre pile of junk. Ice Cube phones in his performance, probably looking to just make a quick buck off of this low effort movie. This corporate logo–stuffed disaster can’t even achieve “so bad it’s good” status, because not a single second is remotely enjoyable. We wouldn’t watch it again even if we were paid.