Locked Down is a movie that just might hit a little too close to home, as it is about what the world has gone through this past year.
This past year has been hard for all of us, there is no doubt about that. Locked Down channels a lot of things we have become comfortable with. Zoom meetings where you wear pajama pants but nice tops, drinking a bit more, feeling stressed out, and having trouble sleeping.
But can you imagine being in lockdown with the person you just broke up with? That is what this film is mostly about. Linda and Paxton have decided to split ways, but then the lock down happened and they are forced to live together until it is over.
When a heist type opportunity arises that will benefit them both, they put their heads together to make it happen.
What Worked With Locked Down
Locked Down is a movie that worked for me mostly because of two things. First of all, I could really relate to it in the way that I have been stuck at home nearly a year now. Things have changes and while some places have opened up, not everything has.
They wear masks when they go out and they drink a bit more than they did before lock down. I have also been known to wear my pajama pants and a nice top while on a Zoom meeting or interview. And I know I am not the only one.
Another thing that worked about this movie is the casting choice. Anne Hathaway and Chiwetel Ejiofor seem like the perfect choices to play Linda and Paxton. I believed them. Their chemistry at times, and lack of at others, made sense. I could see their story.
A good amount of this movie features Zoom calls and meetings and one of my favorite things is when they switch to a Zoom screen. It happens several times throughout and it works because it just makes sense. Oh, and when the movie changes pace about halfway through to become a heist movie — here for it!
What Didn’t Work With Locked Down
It feels like every movie I have watched lately is about two hours long. I am not sure why this is a trend, but it is. Unfortunately the majority of these movies have slow moments and it feels like they are simply, just too long. Locked Down is the same way.
However, it isn’t the ending that is too long. Quite the opposite. A little longer than halfway through the tides turn and this becomes less about a ex-couple living together during lock down and more about them planning a heist. This was my favorite part about the film, although the first 30 to 40 minutes are pretty fantastic too. Although, they do hit a little too close to home, so be warned about that when you sit down to watch it.
Overall Thoughts
Locked Down could quite possibly feel just a bit too real for a lot of people. It takes what many of us have been living through and portrays it pretty perfectly on screen. The lead actors are perfect in their roles and they had me rooting for them to work things out from the beginning. Or at least be happy in their separation.
So is Locked Down worth a watch? I say yes, it absolutely is. If you can get through the first hour I promise you, the payoff is there. When the movie switches gears, it gets infinitely better, which isn’t to say the beginning is bad because it isn’t. It just drags a bit in the middle.
Check out the best Locked Down quotes!
About Locked Down
Just as they decide to separate, Linda and Paxton find life has other plans when they are stuck at home in a mandatory lockdown. Co-habitation is proving to be a challenge, but it will bring them closer together in the most surprising way.
Locked Down comes to HBO Max on January 14th, 2021.
Tessa Smith is a Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer-approved Film and TV Critic. On Camera personality and TV / Film Critic with 10+ years of experience in video editing, writing, editing, moderating, and hosting.