Cast: Ewan McGregor, Scarlett Johansson, Sean Bean.
Dir: Michael Bay.
You might have thought Ewan McGregor would have had his fill of sci-fi movies after clone-ing around as a Jedi for three movies. You’d be wrong. He’s gone back to the future again, but only 12 years in this case, where - as the snappily - named Lincoln Six-Echo - he lives on an isolated and heavily-controlled island.
No doubt he would have got some ribbing. Out of Star Wars and into a Michael Bay movie?
Keeping him company is Hollywood super babe Scarlett Johansson, who is Jordan Two-Delta. The character experiences her own shock-journey into adulthood; she gets a crash-course in desire, fear, avarice and sexual awakening.
The pair’s slightly stupid surnames are important though-in fact they’re a giveaway that Ewan and Scarlett are clones - created to supply organs. Naturally they don’t want to end up gutted and filleted so they high-tail it off the island and into New York in just about the longest - and most exciting - chase sequence ever filmed. It goes on and on and on as the runaway pair dodge cars, laser pistols and helicopters. In fact, after a while it gets a bit overwhelming but it’s certainly never boring - even if at times it reminds you a bit of the chase scenes in Minority Report. And it has more than a hint of the 70’s classic turned TV series Logan’s Run.
It’s a little let down too by casting Sean Bean as the bad guy doctor in chief - there’s not a lot he can do with his borderline caricature character. Still, no one’s going to see this for the acting. But expect big, bold and belting summer fun!
The film is a genuine alternative to the pummel-heavy blockbusters of the front-end of the season: two fresh-faced stars, an intriguing pop-scientific premise and relatively light on CGI, WHY THE HELL WOULD YOU NEED IT WHEN YOU’VE GOT BAY?
After Pearl Harbor, Armageddon and two Bad Boys films, Michael Bay could hardly be called a subtle director. But his polished sci-fi parable begins promisingly, with nods to genre classics. Alas, he quickly loses his nerve and resorts to his usual tedious bombast. You know the drill - shoot-outs, car chases, improbable action set-pieces. US punters stayed away in their droves - proof Ewan McGregor isn’t much of a draw unless he’s holding a lightsaber.