Lack of "Logic" Kills Disbelief

by Jason R. Hewlett

When watching an escapist movie one must be able to suspend all disbelief and enjoy the film for what it is. How does one do that? Simple, the makers of the movie have to be able to create their own kind of "logic" for the film by making everything seem totally one hundred percent believable within the context of the story they are telling. When that is done well, say in the case of "The Matrix" or "Star Wars," even unanswered questions don't matter. We accept what we've seen and enjoy it for what it is.

Unfortunately for the new Will Smith blockbuster the inner logic of the film just doesn't gel.

The film is an update of the 1960's Robert Conrad T.V. series of the same name and details the exploits of rough and ready agent Jim West (Will Smith), a kind of cowboy James Bond, and his gadget obsessed sidekick Artemus Gordon, who is played by Kevin Kline. During the course of this film they do battle with mad genius Arliss Loveless (Kenneth Brannagh) and his 80 foot tall mechanical tarantula as he plans to ruin the United States and kill President Grant .

This is all well and good but the script, by more writers than I could count (always a bad sign) is sloppily put together and lacking its own inner "logic." Things just seem to happen and be accepted in this version of the Wild West. No one is particularly surprised to see a fire breathing mechanical tarantula and a man is fully capable of surviving as an upper torso. This would work fine if we had some reason to believe that all this is possible. Even subplots pop up with no real reason except to be just subplots and build character motivation. There are alot of good ideas here, they just don't make sense and most don't fly because of it.

Also a let down is Kline as Gordon. He is a great actor but doesn't have the energy or charisma to compete with the always energetic and charming Smith. George Clooney was originally slated to play the role of Artemus and he would have been an excellent choice.

The movie isn't a total let down and no where near as bad as my fellow critics say it is. There are a few good laughs and special effects sequences and some of the action works well but overall the film just kind of ambles along because nothing quite kicks.

Maybe with another script overhaul this film could have been as fun and wacky as Smith's other collaboration with director Barry "Men In Black" Sonnenfeld. Of course, that film just had one writer so that says something. Oh yeah: it had a good paring in Tommy Lee Jones as well...also a good thing.

5.5 out of 10!