Thursday, Feb. 25, 2010

"Gamer"

Since Gerald Butler's breakout role in "300," he has been rolling out the movies. Unfortunately, none of them have been able to live up to that breakout role or even test his skills as a leading man. He seems to bounce back and forth between action films and romantic roles, taking on the quantity not quality credo in the process. In this week's reviews we've got a Butler double-dip. "Gamer" is a retelling of Stephen King's "Running Man" with technological amendments. Death row inmates are able to fight for their freedom by surviving 30, real-life "Call of Duty" type games where the participants are controlled by civilian gamers. The plot feels like perfectly fine fodder for a popcorn action movie but we have some burnt kernels here. First, the action scenes feel contrived and over-choreographed. Second, there are characters introduced and forgotten with a haphazard kill-'em-all mentality. Third, the actor's roles are limited to stereotypes. Two films with Butler playing the vengeful husband/father, (see below review), seem like a little like overkill. Michael C. Hall almost saves the film with his portrayal of the mad computer scientist with a god complex; he is just not in it enough. This feels too generic and forgettable - don't bother renting.