Film Reviews

Gamer

• Rating:
• Director:
• Starring: Alison Lohman
• Details: US/TBC TBC

How do you even begin to review a film that is essentially a game without the controller? Sure, the directors, who have branded themselves Neveldine/Taylor, shove in a plot that they'd like to believe in some way reflects the direction our society is heading in, but frankly, it plays like an excuse to blow s**t up. Hey, far be it from me to criticise anyone for wanting to blow s**t up, it's just if you keep shoving the action sequences down people's throats, eventually someone is going to throw up. This is a predictably hyper production that while watchable in a warped kind of way, is too giddy to appeal to anyone who doesn't consume Red Bull by the gallon.
Set in the not-too-distant future (yes, that auld chestnut), the plot revolves around a bunch of prison in-mates, who are used by the blood hungry public as avatars in games where they are pitted against each other with lots of big guns. Spotty adolescents at home can essentially embody a real character, kill a bunch of other prisoners, and become famous, without getting so much as grazed knee. Top-rated "solider" is Kable, played by a beefed up Gerard Butler in 300 mode. Kable is extremely close to getting through 30 missions and gaining his freedom, but the mastermind behind Slayers, Ken Castle isn't too keen on letting that happen.
How do you 'Out-Bay' Michael Bay? By having two Michael Bays. It's pretty simple maths, and there are enough pretty girls and bulging biceps here to distract anyone whose hormones have yet to settle down long enough for them to actually sit through an elongated Michael Bay production. In fairness to Neveldine/Taylor, they're not trying to be pretentious here, just entertain their core audience, which is fine, but probably a key factor in why the film bombed.
Fans of Butler's torso will be glad to hear he's as buff as ever, but even those hoping for a return to the action-heavy awesomeness of 300 will leave Gamer with a headache. Michael C Hall is pretty funny, though.

Review by Mike Sheridan