Franken -
I read one detailed "review" where the reviewer said the special effects were bad. The trees and plants are producing the neurotoxin that kills people. One shot apparently focuses on a tree and the leaves wave in the breeze which is supposed to indicate: toxin is spreading. I also heard that Marky Mark's acting is the absolute WORST.
The twist of the movie is
that there is no twist. Plants do indeed cause stuff happens and then it stops. Oh and Marky Mark talks to a plastic plant at one point. No joke.
And the only surprise is that someone actually gave Night the money to make this. It's stupendously awful. The most spectacular act of career suicide I can think of since...well, probably Lady in the Water. Having to decide which one is worse would require me to see both again and I have no plans to ever do that. Please, spend your money on anything else this weekend--even that underwhelming Hulk movie. It's not good, but it's better than this.
Oh and Marky Mark talks to a plastic plant at one point. No joke.
See, that
is
a twist.
Normally it's Marky's co-stars who are talking to a plastic plant.
Normally it's Marky's co-stars who are talking to a plastic plant.
Zing!
[curse you, wee spoiler edits!]
But wait, didn't the trailer also have Tension-Filled Moments with
ominous thumping and knocking sounds?
Am I misremembering?
But does
Marky Mark
at least
undress
?
That may have been
the crew falling asleep from boredom and banging into things. Entirely understandable considering the dialogue they had to listen to all day. The movie's idea of tension is having Marky Mark and Zooey running away from...WIND! I haven't laughed that hard since the characters in Day After tomorrow outran deadly frost.
ah ha, thus the review comment that said:
the plants and trees were moving in the breeze
so if I adored
Lady in the Water
I might like
The Happening?
Perhaps, but I wouldn't count on it. There were elements to Lady in the Water that may have worked with better execution, but in the case of The Happening, I can't see how anything could have improved this story. Really, the biggest shock is how terrible the script is--in the past, Night has proven himself capable of writing believable characters and dialogue that doesn't make you howl with unintentional laughter. At times, I found myself wondering whether the whole movie was some kind of elaborate practical joke, but I don't think that guy has a sense of humor...