It’s always so jarring to walk into a large movie theater only to see every seat empty. Not a single person is there for the movie that is about to play. That was my experience when I went to see “Digger.” I always try to avoid hearing anything about a movie before watching it, but it was hard to avoid the news that this movie was a huge flop, so I went in with very low expectations and prepared for the worst. To my surprise, I ended up enjoying the movie. Despite its flaws, “Digger” had a great message, intriguing storyline and surprisingly good jokes.
“Digger” is a satirical comedy starring Tom Cruise as billionaire Digger Rockwell, an unlikable and out-of-touch oil tycoon who keeps drilling at his site in Greenland amidst environmental concerns from his team. He is unwilling to sacrifice the enormous profit it generates. His greed catches up with him when the drilling causes a methane leak and explosion that breaks off a piece of the ice shelf, sending it through the ocean and straight for Western Europe. Rockwell and his head of environmental safety, Dr. Nirav Ganesh, played by Riz Ahmed, must work with U.S. President Compson, played by John Goodman, to prevent the ice from crashing into Europe.
The film had a very relevant message relating to our society. Rockwell embodies the billionaire who prioritizes personal wealth over public well-being, ignoring the consequences of his actions until they become impossible to avoid. Even when faced with a disaster of his own making, he searches for someone else to blame rather than accepting responsibility. However, in one scene, Rockwell confronts a crowd accusing him of causing the catastrophe, pointing out that the people condemning him were more than willing to purchase the cheap oil his company produced. The moment highlights that while society is quick to criticize the actions of powerful corporations, consumers often continue supporting the practices they condemn.
The comedy in the film was surprisingly good and balanced with the serious aspects. “Digger” isn’t the kind of movie that tries to squeeze a joke into every scene. Instead, its humor comes in carefully timed moments that break the tension without undermining the story. One of my favorite scenes was one where the president assumes that authorizing a strike is as simple as pressing a big red button. Upon being told that there is no actual button, and the “button” is actually three massive books that he is legally required to read before a launch can be validated, the president whines “I have to read?” and eventually gives up on authorizing the strike. The joke is ridiculous, but it also fits perfectly with the movie’s broader criticism of powerful people who are unprepared for the responsibilities they hold.
Although I had a good time watching the movie, it was a little hard to follow. There was a twist toward the middle that made the story a lot more confusing. As the movie progresses, keeping track of the different characters, their motivations and the overlapping storylines becomes a challenge. Although the complexity gives viewers plenty to think about, it also makes certain moments less effective because so much attention is spent trying to understand what is happening.
Overall, “Digger” succeeded in conveying a deep, relevant message while being enjoyable to watch. Many parts had me laughing at a joke in the middle of a serious scene. Its satire encourages audiences to question corporate greed, consumer responsibility and the people entrusted with power, all while finding humor in the absurdity of those issues. For hours after leaving the theater, I found myself reconsidering scenes and details I hadn’t fully appreciated while watching. It may demand more attention than the average comedy, and it certainly isn’t without its flaws, but that effort ultimately felt worthwhile. For a movie that no one else showed up to my screening to watch, it was a great surprise.
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