|
| Foocha! is a non-profit Web site. We do it for kicks, not for cash. If you're interested in writing for the site, click here |
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
| Movies,
Jerry Carpenter,
20 January 1999 |
Rating: F3
|
|
| |
| |
|
I Love Paul Verhoven, because he never lets you down – he’s the most unsubtle, exploitative, bloody-minded of directors, and seems genetically unable to make a dull film. His previous effort ‘Starship Troopers’ remains the one film I ever actually urinated myself in, so keen was I not to miss a second. So it’s a sad occasion when I can finally say that for the first time he’s actually made a totally average film. Not a bad film, actually pushing on the edge of good, but a film that any Hollywood bozo could’ve knitted together.
It’s ‘The Invisible Man’ again, updated for the nineties, but with a whole team of scientists rather than the one, and with the action largely confined to an underground research lab. The ultra-ubiquitous Kev Bacon plays the nutty prof, and Elizabeth Shue is his opposite number and ex-flame. Unfortunately for Kev’s somewhat obsessive persona, Liz is now dating the other, sexier ‘Invisiologist’, Josh Brolin, and it’s only a matter of time before Kev finds out and goes a little beyond the green with envy stage. The rest of the team is made up of the typical modern science team archetypes – slacker guy, jolly computer guy, uptight moralist girl, nothing out of the ordinary – all meat for the invisible beast. Story-wise that’s really about all there is.
It’s good fun science stuff for the first half, as we’re treated to delights such as a gorilla being gorily re-formed out of thin air, and Kev’s equally gory turning invisible scene, which become un-intentionally funny when he gets to the skeleton phase. Sure enough we get to see a lot of Kev’s bacon, but this time it’s all in heat-sensor vision - Ahh, shame. It’s just everything post-mad Kev phase is so par for the course, running around the complex whacking out his old mates. Appearing out of the smoke, or in a shower of water, there’s numerous imaginative ways used to represent his state, but nothing that really adds to the story beyond the basic ‘BOO!’ factor. Even the dodgy boob watching scenes are a bit pat, especially for a crass-meister like Mr Verhoven. Weird then, that the best scene in the film doesn’t involve our invisible Kev at all, just a bit of jaw-dropping metal-screeching lift shaft action. Maybe they should’ve got Chevy Chase for the main role instead and made it a comedy. Ah well.
UK rating:
18
US rating:
R
Paul Verhoeven and Jost Vacano 2000 USA
Kevin Bacon, Elisabeth Shue, Josh Brolin, Kim Dickens, Joey Slotnick
Top Home |
|
|
|
|
