To combat overpopulation, scientists develop a process that shrinks humans down to about 12 cm.

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After a very good first week in theatres, Downsizing is undoubtedly the first big disappointment of the year. Directed by Alexander Payne (Sideways, Election), Downsizing had enough potential to become a small pearl of a film. Its script, in which man finds a way to reduce his level of consumerism, cover his food needs and lessen his impact on the environment, is highly original and makes a strong, essential statement on ecology in our time. During its first quarter or even its third, the film completely succeeds thanks to its exploration of this world, which uses a well-developed scientific approach.

Unfortunately, following an unexpected twist, the feature film quickly loses its political, ecological or economic meaning. The story, centered around Matt Damon's character, rapidly turns into a boring, lengthy, banal romance. In the end it does raise some good issues, such as the place of humans in the world and the effect they will have on history, which can even be considered a biblical parallel. But it’s not enough to counterbalance the dumb romanticism at the center of the movie.