'Replicas' was yet another example of a film where an excellent, promising idea is enough to draw anybody right in. Also appreciate sci-fi with a touch of thriller and do not mind films made on a modest to low budget. Despite what some of my reviews seem to indicate otherwise, namely due to seeing too many of those that don't show much or any signs of effort. Am no fan of Keanu Reeves, but don't hate him as much as others do. He has given the odd above serviceable performance when the material allows, but too many of his films betray his limitations.
Very like what 'Replicas' does. It is very frustrating when a film does nothing with good potential or botches an idea that could easily have worked, regardless of what the budget is, and there are many of those around. 'Replicas' does this and is one of the most disappointing recent examples for me. An example of a film that had one of the best ideas for any film seen recently, one that could have made for an intelligent, tense and interesting film, yet was none of those things and ended up being ridiculous and dull. Which does leave me somewhat annoyed.
What stops 'Replicas' from getting a lower rating from me, being somebody who always strives to see the good in everything (as well as pointing out things that could have been better in other above average and more films/television series/dramas/episodes/productions), is the production values. Here the production values, considering the budget, were really quite good, being remarkably slick and atmospheric with no real signs of choppiness.
Also thought the music avoided being intrusive, repetitive or monotonous. It is not exceptional and doesn't stay in the mind forever but it was at least tolerable and fitted rather than worked against.
Everything else on the other hand doesn't work...at all. And it is difficult knowing when to start with the criticisms. Do have to completely concur with those criticising the acting and script, both elements were never more than risible. Reeves' limitations have not been this obvious in quite some time, while nobody else seems remotely interested in their roles and give lifeless at best performances. Alice Eve in particular, showing the emotions of a robot. The characters though do have nothing to them, no depth or personality and found myself frequently bored and annoyed by them as their behaviour became increasingly stupid (a bugbear of mine and committed a lot). The script was written by somebody with very little prior experience and that comes through loud and clear, everything sounded so forced, so unnatural and as soggy as particularly wet cucumber sandwiches which are inedible in my mind.
The story is an absolute mess. It doesn't even start off well, from the start we are hit by poor acting, dialogue and characters getting worse all the time. The first half is ridiculous and causes unintentional laughter, and there is a feeling that the concept was rather over-ambitious because there is a lot of convolution, loose ends and lack of sense and logic as a result of severely under-explaining everything. The second half includes thriller elements that are anything but thrilling and has no tension or suspense, with the pace getting more and more tedious and the confusion and stupidity rises to fever pitch. To add insult to injury, there is an attempt at a third act reveal that was not a surprise at all and enough to make one want to hit their heads on a wall in frustration at having their intelligence insulted. Then the film ends on a rather pat and too easily resolved note. Inexperience shows in the direction too.
Concluding, disappointingly weak for something that had such great potential to work and should have done. 3/10
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