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The Invasion (PG-13)





Release Date: August 17th, 2007 by Warner Bros. Pictures.
The Cast: Nicole Kidman, Daniel Craig, Jeremy Northam, Jackson Bond, Jeffrey Wright, Veronica Cartwright.
Directed by Oliver Hirschbiegel.

BASIC PREMISE: Carol Bennell (Kidman) must save herself and her son, Oliver (Bond), from an epidemic that turns humans into emotionless beings when they sleep.

ENTERTAINMENT VALUE: Even if you haven't seen any of the other three films based on Jack Finney’s novel Invasion of the Body Snatchers, The Invasion still has no real surprises, thrills or chills. Nicole Kidman gives an unremarkable performance as Carol Bennell, a Washington, D.C. shrink who notices people behaving strangely and becoming sick with a virus that soon becomes widespread. She learns from her boyfriend (Craig), who happens to be a doctor, that the virus turns humans into emotionless beings and kicks into full gear during the REM stage of sleep. In a race against time, Carol must figure out what’s going on while trying to saving her young son, Oliver, from her ex-husband, who might already be one of the many mutated humans given how cold he suddenly seems. The unimaginative screenplay by Dave Kajganich, unfortunately, doesn’t pack any punches and, eventually, Carol’s quest to save Oliver feels both contrived and tedious. Although he does include slick visual effects, director Oliver Hirschbiegel should be blamed for awkwardly mixing the genres of sci-fi, thriller, horror and drama with very little success. It never actually veers into unintentional comedy like other remakes do, such as The Omen, but the plot does become preposterous, especially with a tacked-on ending that insults the original film. While watching The Invasion, rather than feeling anything along the lines of excitement or fright, you’ll sit there emotionless just like those mutated humans who you might unintentionally end up rooting for.

SPIRITUAL VALUE: None is required or desired.

INSULT TO YOUR INTELLIGENCE: None, as long as you suspend your disbelief.

NUMBER OF TIMES I CHECKED MY WATCH: 8

IN A NUTSHELL: A visually slick, but unfocused, contrived and ultimately preposterous remake.

RECOMMENDED WAY TO WATCH: TV


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