An easy-to-digest but ultimately unexceptional sci-fi comedy flick.

The film follows a highly conventional structure and premise: an eclectic group of individuals with clashing personalities is assembled to undergo training for a special mission to find a new habitable planet for humanity.

However, the African perspective injected into the narrative offers a breath of fresh air. It allows the film to explore themes not typically addressed in this genre, such as Africa’s perceptions of the usual protagonists in these stories (namely Western countries, and particularly the US), colonialism, and slavery, as well as internal tensions that raise questions around religion and the true potential of Pan-Africanism.

In terms of its comedic value, some jokes land better than others, but it’s likely to get at least a few laughs from most viewers. The humour spans a wide range (dark, light-hearted, silly…), which is both a strength and a weakness. While one scene or line might strike you as funny, the next may leave you rolling your eyes.