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Yep, its that time again No new ideas? Thats okay. Well just mine old books and films and see if we can squeeze some ducats out of ruining someone elses great idea. The latest disaster: The Invasion, a.k.a, Invasion of the Plotty Snatchers! Even Kidmans cute, little nose and see-through tee coupled with Craigs chiseled pouting and bond-like swaggering couldnt save this film.
 Now, dont get me wrong, the concept is strong: somethings wrong with your husband, your child, your worldits slowly being taken over by aliens. Kidman plays a psychiatrist who must pretend shes been infected in order to avoid detection and find her sonwho just happens to be the link to a cure, of courseyawn. Her Stepford Wives training serves her well here as she sucks up all kinds of emotions and turns them into a glassy, blue stare. Add in that you cant react or sleep, and, wellcheap tricks or notIm hooked. Its true that Jack Finneys work could use some oomph and some, ahem, updating. Its nice that the protagonist is transformed into a resourceful gal, if ,um, a tad slow on the synaptic aliens-among-us connections.
Although theres nothing wrong with the original idea, its called a thriller because its supposed to be thrilling! This was a perfectly good thriller--for, oh, 1992. The CG was laughable; even the aptly titled The Forgotten was more compelling. And I for one could have done without the supermom complex routine. Didn't they get the memo that no spawn is allowed to be both that cute and the cure? They even had the kid wear a Superman costume for Halloween, you know, just in case he saves the world later, which he, of course, does.
The main problem is that the film is unforgivably predictable and rife with ridiculously convenient plot devices. Even I cannot suspend that much disbelief, and Im one of those people who *wants* to believe: a Mulder will trapped in a Scully brain.
Things that make you want to stab yourself in the neck or hope you die of a fatal eyeroll:
~ Tuckers just been fully hazmatted-out to view shuttle debris, butimmediately upon return to civilian gearpricks his finger on a spore-filled piece of the craft that a little girl hands him. Dunno about you, but if I just stepped out of a hazsuit, Im thinking I might not go around accepting alien artifacts, especially from anyone sporting pigtails.
~ The "new girlfriend" (who seems to solely exist so that we can see her in panties) washes her face one second, and then the next shes asleep in bedwith full eye makeup on. Gee, I need to get that face wash! Or not. I think thats what Michael Jackson may use. *shudder*
~ Soon after Kidmans character (something banal, erhm, Bennell) explains to her son that hell have to inject her in the heart (Anyone? Anyone? Metaphor?) should she fall asleep, sheyou guessed it!falls asleep so he can be brave and save his mom through love in the form of a sharp needle. Hurrah! I mean, Taxi!
At least the directing was good (Davud Kajganich) for what was there to work with. I liked the not-totally-linear approach and the way thoughts and memories were scrambled. If it werent for that, I would have totally hated it; and I like pretty much anything with an alien / scifi theme. The other good thing about this film is: Jeremy Northam, who delivers a truly creepy performance as the emotionless alien ex-husband. I would have thought it impossible to make good ole Mr. Knightley from Emma unattractively sinister, but he pulls it off and then some! The film deploys the traditional thriller / horror fare to get a rise out of you. It inches along methodically, lulling you into the quiet pacing, and then lets loose a loud noise or scary image to jar you. It works and gets your heart racing. But that alone cant save this film (what Academy Award winners call filler) from oblivion. Not every film can be The Hours, you know, though I do wish they would consider *our* time when signing on for these projects.
Being a credits watcher, I waited, hoping there might be some outtake, some tiny spore-like sign, that hinted that all was not so neatly tied up with a giant plot bow. But then, as I slunk down the stairs and back out into our world, which has only been invaded by idiots so far, I realized that I didnt care
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