In 1998, Percy Schmeiser (Christopher Walken) is a cantankerous canola farmer in rural Saskatchewan. He receives a letter from Monsanto demanding $19k for using their crop genes. It's the groundbreaking legal battle between a single farmer and a global conglomerate. Jackson Weaver (Zach Braff) is his small town lawyer. Rebecca Salcau (Christina Ricci) is an environmental advocate eager to join the case.
This is very much the standard underdog story. The movie should center around Percy and Jackson. Rebecca does muscle into the second lead position and that is problematic. I can understand the movie writing an environmentalist in that way. It may even be very true to the reality. It would be better to make her less prominent. There is also the problem of Monsanto as the villain. It has no face and the movie generates no actual character doing the villainy. In the end, this important little-known story has a simple compelling lead hero and that's good.
This is very much the standard underdog story. The movie should center around Percy and Jackson. Rebecca does muscle into the second lead position and that is problematic. I can understand the movie writing an environmentalist in that way. It may even be very true to the reality. It would be better to make her less prominent. There is also the problem of Monsanto as the villain. It has no face and the movie generates no actual character doing the villainy. In the end, this important little-known story has a simple compelling lead hero and that's good.