Reviews

The house is great. The movie is sweet, but boring. The characters are 2-dimensional (or less), and it has all been done before, and better (Topper, for example). Spader, who I usually like a lot, seems to have not a clue of what he is doing. Physical comedy by him looks clumsy, character motivation or depth is nonexistent. I did not like his character as a person or as a comedic device. Michael Caine overacted (as usual) but that is OK for the role. A pleasant hour movie that ran 1:40. I'd rent it if you are in the mood for a "chick flick", and it does have its moments when Spader is not on center stage. But it could have been a whole lot better!

This was a pleasant surprise. I expected to like it when I bought the tape; I liked it a lot more than that while and after watching the film. The script is superb, reminding me of John Steinbeck in its ability to take quirky working class characters, put them in an interesting setting, and then to tell a leisurely story with all kinds of plot twists at the end. Acting is excellent, especially the three stars. Mary Elizabeth M. creates a real and memorable character that we would all like to meet in real life. The ending allows for discussion among those who have just watched---there is some stimulus for the mind and nary a car chase. Rent it, watch it, enjoy it!!!

The basic premise, a brain transplant and the subsequent implications of having someone else's memory as well as your own, has potential to be a very good movie. This one seems, however, to have been written by committee and does not live up to its premise. Most memorable aspect is the future answer to a trivia question: What movie featured a brain transplant from one actor named Campbell to another, neither of whom were related to each other? The thrills are minor, the outcome predictable, and the bad guys' characters have the depth of a single molecule. Robert Vaughn does a particularly poor job as the worst bad guy. Both Campbells play their stock characters adequately, but everyone seems to be going through the motions and the movie lacks energy. The computer effects are cheesy and unoriginal. All in all, boring.

This is not Shakespeare, and there is a lot of mindless violence and a script apparently written by committee. But Van Damme seems to be having fun, the ever-present humor lightens the tone and makes the whole thing fun, and there are echoes of Schwartzenegger at his best (before he started taking himself too seriously) in Van Damme's performance. The older folk are all experienced character actors, and they too seem to be having fun spoofing the genre. It is not a great movie, and is instantly forgettable, but we really enjoyed watching it and would certainly recommend it in place of summer TV reruns.

This was a videotape rented on the basis of the store clerk's recommendation, and was it ever a pleasant surprise. Good story, great characters, and a real feel-good feeling afterwards. It is completely original, with quirky characters you can genuinely like and a surprise or two along the way. Very highly recommended, and I'd give it a 10.