Laughably Offensive. A Riotus Comedy.

Rating: 1/10 (10 September 2006)

I watched this film on Sky Movies a while ago, was intrigued by it because of comparisons with "Eternal Sunshine..." and David Lynch, but ultimately expected to be disappointed due to the appearance of smug celebrity twot, Ashton Kutcher.
Obviously with a film like this you're meant to leave all logic at the door, because there's no way someone could alter their present by using their brain as a time machine. I found every "flashback" scene to be more hilarious than the last, particularly when he stops his future girlfriend from being sexually abused by her father. There's nothing believable about it and each character is incredibly one dimensional. Kutcher as the confused but "sensitive" main character; Melora Walters as his constantly upset mother; Elden Henson as the consistently angry model plane enthusiast, Lenny and William Lee Scott as the overprotective criminal older brother. Amy Smart is so transparent I don't even remember any of her performance.
The filmmakers clearly intend for "The Butterfly Effect" to be taken as heart breaking drama, which most of it's cretinous audience praise it as being, but to the intelligent viewer it's more of a riotus comedy.
It sort of jumps the shark though when Kutcher awakes from his "time travelling" to find his usually angry best friend is now cured and staying in the same college dorm as him. Kutcher is about to go back to sleep, when he notices that he has no arms and is now a hugely deformed cripple, that everyone seems to enjoy poking fun at. His best friend Lenny - the one who is no longer angry and enthused about model planes - is now dating Amy Smarts character. This depresses Kutcher's character. When being wheeled around the college campus the "jocks" and "nerds" continue to mock Kutcher's armless state, which depresses him even further. So, he decides to end it all and attempts to drown himself in the bath - cue the gratuitous 'turning on the water with my stump' shot. But of course, the disabled are useless so Kutcher's character even fails at suicide. "I can't even kill myself!" he yelps as Amy Smart clutches his wavering stumps.
If you're looking for a good drama, avoid this film like the plague but if you're looking to be cheered up one solemn winter night then look no further than "The Butterfly Effect". Rated R for Refreshingly Offensive.