Messy (possible spoilers)

Rating: Null/10 (9 August 2012)

Today, while searching for a movie, I found "The Butterfly Effect" on TV. Having been recommended by my brother time ago, I decided to watch it. Well, to put it kindly, I found it a mess, a bleak mess. I don't want to analyze the plot(or plot holes),I have some questions instead. 1)Why every event in the past is a traumatic one? 2) Why the future events have to be so pessimistic? 3) Why the prison scene? 4) Who thought Ashton Kutcher could put a good dramatic effort?
The idea for the movie is great: "some minor things we do in the past can alter our whole future", but the problem is that the idea is developed in a murky way, and the addition of bleakness and grittiness does not make the plot any favors. It's like they tried to add some grim reality as a way to give the plot a sense of seriousness (which turns to be a bit laughable)
Another problem is the cast selection. Ashton Kutchner is not a drama actor. Amy Smart as a heroin addicted prostitute is not realistic. Ashton Kutchner's mom looked younger than Kutchner's character. The others are fine.
To sum up, this movie suffers a lot from its plot holes and leaves you wondering if it was for real or it was a good joke. If you want to watch a movie where a small thing in the past can alter the future, watch Kieslowski's "Blind Chance". If you want to watch a movie where the main character has scary flashbacks from the past, watch "Jacob's Ladder". And if you want a movie when the main character travels through time, well watch "Back To The Future".