Close, but not quite there

Rating: Null/10 (8 August 2004)

Like so many Hollywood thrillers of the last few years, The Butterfly Effect starts with a good plot and premise, but goes awry along the way and ends up being just another 2 1/2 star movie.
My review is based on the director's cut DVD, as I have not seen the theatrical release. The plot of the movie is quite interesting. Although it plays as a time travel sci-fi movie, the real point of the movie is about how the smallest of details can affect the lives of millions of people, hence the title. From this aspect, I found the movie to be very interesting. The time travel sequences are also interesting to see what is going to be different every time Evan returns to the present.
Where the movie goes wrong is in the characters and the execution of that plot. The movie is full of characters who act like characters from other movies, and not like real people. All frat boys are not rude, insensitive, cheating idiots. I'd be willing to bet that sorority houses are not full of girls walking around in their underwear or less. I doubt that a pedophile being called a "f%$@bag" by a child would really stop him. And finally, you do not get sent to a maximum security prison while awaiting trial, especially in an obvious self defense situation.
In listening to the DVD commentary, the cause of these problems is obvious. The two writer/directors are so in love with themselves and their apparent struggle to get this movie made, that they have no concept of what works and what doesn't. The make comparisons to Psycho, The Insider, Gladiator, and Saving Private Ryan while describing their glorified teen movie.
By the way, Ashton Kutcher's performance in this movie is just fine. If you can't see past the dumb characters he's played in the past, that's your fault, not his.