The Matrix Resurrections (2021) Review

The Matrix Resurrections (2021)

The Matrix Resurrections follows Thomas Anderson, somehow alive and living a false life in the Matrix, where he must follow the white rabbit once again and rescue his mind, as well as Trinity, from the fabricated reality they live in. 

After 18 long years, we finally return to the Matrix with Resurrections, and from what I can gather, it’s an incredibly meta sequel that goes to great lengths to interrogate the legacy of the original Matrix movies, seeming to retrospectively loathe the conditions responsible for its very existence. It’s in this vein that it almost rehashes what came before but with the tongue-in-cheek knowledge that what came before has already happened, poking fun at reboots and unnecessary sequels in a bid to prove that the original is always better. 

While much has obviously changed since the original trilogy, what with new faces inhabiting existing characters and a significant drop in the quality and amount of action, I appreciate that Lana Wachowski took the time to make Neo’s mind heist to bring back Trinity the focus of this revival. For me, The Matrix has always been Neo and Trinity and so seeing their love finally get it’s due diligence (and Trinity treated with genuine respect after the events of Revolutions) was both heartwarming and exciting. We also get confirmation of a theory I’ve held for awhile and that’s that Neo isn’t the only “One”, sharing that title with Trinity, with the bounds of her love acting as the catalyst for much of his power in the originals, and vice versa this time around. 

We get an adequate cast, starring Priyanka Chopra, Jada Pinkett Smith, Neil Patrick Harris, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Jessica Henwick, Jonathon Groff, Carrie-Anne Moss, and Keanu Reeves. While Reeves and Moss clearly show their age, they hardly miss a beat and really anchor this sequel of new faces to the past. And while I wasn’t particularly sold on the new cast, I did quite like Henwick and Harris, as they add something refreshing while not hashing over classic characters we know and love.

The Matrix Resurrections, directed by Lana Wachowski, is a decent return to the series, acting as an interesting meta commentary on reboots and sequels, that while severely lacking in the trademark action and cool of the originals, ends on a better note than before, thrusting Trinity and Neo centerstage for whatever is to come down the line. 

7.6/10