Empire of Light wants to be a profound meditation on mental health, racism, and human connection in Thatcher-era Britain. Instead, it's a well-photographed but emotionally distant drama that can't quite figure out what it wants to say.

The R rating is well-earned: sexual content, racist violence, and mental health crises make this completely inappropriate for kids. But here's the thing—it's also not particularly good for adults. The 44% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes tells the story: this is a noble effort that doesn't come together. It's slow, unfocused, and more earnest than insightful.

Olivia Colman tries her best, and Roger Deakins makes it look beautiful, but you'll spend two hours waiting for the film to find its footing. It never quite does. There are better ways to explore these important themes—ones that are either more appropriate for families OR more engaging for adults. This falls into an awkward middle ground of being too mature for young viewers and too plodding for most everyone else.