Jupiter Ascending is a movie getting ready to be released in theaters and while some feel it has great potential for being a hit, others are not as convinced. This space melodrama has been called a mix of Flash Gordon and Barbarella, with a light sprinkling of Dune and Captain Eo.

The film was written and directed by Andy and Lana Wachowski known for their outstanding work in the Matrix films. While the enthusiasm and dedication of Jupiter Ascending is real, critics feel the story is lackluster and performances misguided.

The storyline of Jupiter Ascending begins in current day Chicago where Jupiter Jones named by her astronomer father and played by Mila Kunis, works as an ordinary house cleaner. Along with her mother who was born in Russia, the two handle all the dirty deeds associated with cleaning other people’s homes.

However, neither she nor any of her family is aware that she is actually a genetic replica of an alien who had died long ago. This alien is also the universe’s matriarch and owner of Earth. Eventually, Jupiter’s real identity is learned by Kalique played by Tuppence Middleton, evil offspring of the queen.

The movie continues with characters called Balem Abrasax and Titus trying to locate her. In order to succeed, they reach out for assistance from Caine Wise, played by Channing Tatum, who is a human warrior with genes spliced with a wolf-life creature.

To move around, Wise moves gravity-free shoes with a light beam and throughout the film, is constantly on a quest to save Jupiter from one peril after another. In addition, Cain’s compatriot, Stinger, is both a help and hindrance. Then there is the Abrasax clan who in order to use human cells for nefarious reasons, destroyed dinosaurs and used their DNA to seed the world.

That is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the storyline of this whacked-out movie. For this reason, critics are unsure if it will be a complete flop or so bizarre that it actually gains a cult following. There are some strong actors in the movie and the creators are highly reputable so only time will tell if Jupiter Ascending is a success or complete failure.