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It all has a 60s psychedelic feel … and all you need is love

For a movie about war, protest, sexual revolution, drugs and rock and roll, Across the Universe is oddly naï ve. Gritty elements are used for theatrical effect and then glossed over rather glibly. Drug use, for example, facilitates swirling, colorful scenes of psychedelia, and then seems to leave everyone involved perfectly functional and ready for work the next morning. Sadie's strongly implied alcoholism gives her a bluesy edge, but doesn't appear to interfere in any way with her career or love life. The film cuts from Jude and Lucy's first kiss to Max's bemused discovery of them in bed together the next morning—the characters (and the film itself) are utterly blasé about what might be considered a momentous event in the previously virginal Lucy's life. Prudence's lesbianism is used for surprise and sometimes humor, and then her story is dropped. And while the darkest elements of the film (Max's conscription to a controversial war, as well as Lucy's involvement in a protest movement that eventually turns on itself) seem to be building toward some sort of commentary or insight, eventually they just fizzle out into rather conventional (and simplistic) romantic resolve.

The cartoonist Scott Adams once said: "Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep." Across the Universe is more creative than it is artful. But there's a lot to be said for creativity. And there are worse ways to spend a couple of hours than listening to some of the finest pop tunes ever written and watching a group of talented young actors and their visionary director play together and see what they can make.

Across the Universe is flawed on a number of levels. But I can't wait to see it again.

Talk About It

1. Lucy responded to what she perceived as injustice by becoming an activist. Jude responded by making art. Is one response more valid than another? Is there such a thing as "revolution"?
2. What parallels (if any) do you see between the Vietnam War and current U.S. military action? What should your response be?
3. The film's ultimate conclusion is that "all you need is love." Is that true? If so, how would you define that "love"? What does it "look" like?

The Family Corner

Across the Universe is rated PG-13 for some drug content, nudity, sexuality, violence and language. Other than the (frequent) depiction of alcohol and nicotine consumption, drug use is more implied than depicted (although there is a scene in which a group of college boys smoke "imaginary" joints.) Most of the war violence is surreal; there is some gritty and realistic protest violence. Much of the nudity is stylized (James Bond-esque naked silhouettes, for example), but there is an extended scene in which Jude works on drawing a sleeping Lucy's exposed breast. Add in some profane language and some decidedly sexual themes (including one character's strongly and sympathetically implied lesbianism), and this one's not for the kids.

Photos © Copyright Columbia Pictures

© Carolyn Arends subject to licensing agreement with Christianity Today International. All rights reserved. Click for reprint information.

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