Mild-mannered therapist Paul Safranek and his wife Audrey decide to undergo a process in which scientists shrink people down to miniature size to live in small communities. The irreversible procedure allows you to gain wealth and a life of leisure while helping to cut down on the consumption of natural resources. As Paul and Audrey get to know their new neighbors and surroundings, they soon learn that living in a tiny suburb comes with its own set of huge problems.
Payne's brand of prickly humanism is on full display here; he seems to revel is the notion that it's only when we're uncomfortable that we have any chance at being good.
'Downsizing' suffers from more mood changes than a holiday dinner with ornery relatives, not to mention a third straight Matt Damon performance to leave fans scratching their heads.
Creative Loafing
December 24, 2017
Hong Chau's performance is superb, and she roots the movie in emotions that heretofore had largely been missing.
Downsizing never quite goes where you think it's going, and normally, I'd say that's a plus. But confounding expectations only goes so far. You still have to get to a place worth getting to.
Stumbles as it bravely side-steps the obvious comedy potential of its marvelous premise and aims for something more meaningful...Enlivened no end by the performance of Hong Chau, who plays a Vietnamese agitator.
Ultimately, I have no doubt that Downsizing will appeal to certain people not bothered by its tone-deafness. However, for those of us who would probably end up cleaning Barbie's Dream House instead of living in it, the film strikes the wrong chord.