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The McBlockbuster >> Wild Wild West is a predictable special effects ride
by MATTHEW HAYS
Trouble is, none of his lines are particularly funny. And Wild Wild West is no exception. A rehash of the late '60s TV series, the Western-sci-fi premise has Smith and costar Kevin Kline as mismatched federal agents out to foil the plot of an evil mastermind (Kenneth Branagh, who, despite his best efforts to ham it up, is wasted here). Branagh plays Dr. Loveless, a wheelchair-bound mad scientist who sets out to murder President Ulysses S. Grant. Yes, the entire film is set in 1860s America, which is part of the fun: audiences willingly suspend their disbelief for this premise, that futuristic gadgetry (giant robots, etc.) existed in the era of the Western. The effects are impressive, and are easily the most entertaining aspect of the film. Branagh's character creates a massive robot spider, and the digital mayhem and blue screening of the heroes and villains into the action are undeniably impressive. But that increasingly familiar, sinking feeling starts to take over by half-time. Okay, it is the summer season, which means take your thinking cap off and relax. But the script for Wild Wild West is so banal and thoughtless that the film feels completely devoid of anything remotely novel or interesting, save the giant spider. After the final credits, I walked down Ste-Catherine and decided to venture into McDonald's for a burger. It's fast food, but I justified it by arguing that a Big Mac would perfectly compliment the experience of watching West, a junk food movie if ever there was one. Sadly, the staff appeared to be having some rather major problems serving up the grub that night. The lineup got longer as customers got grumpier. In a particularly embarrassing moment for the McTeam, one young customer returned to the counter to complain that the cook had forgotten something: his two cheeseburgers had no meat patties in them, he said, opening up the buns as evidence. A more perfect extension of the movie experience than I could have imagined. Fast food without the filler. Wild Wild West may end up serving millions but, simply put, there's no meat in it.
Wild Wild West is now playing |
Wild Wild West is an excellent case study in the Hollywood formula for creating a summer movie box-office bonanza. It features the money-winning combo of star Will Smith and tons of special effects. A star with crossover appeal for both black and white audiences, Smith helped both Independence Day and Men in Black rack up substantial box office sums. Indeed, Smith interacts with the effects fairly well, spewing one-liners whenever comic relief is required.