Try and Catch the Wind

Rating: 4/10 (15 June 2008)

Greetings again from the darkness. Even in his less successful films, writer/director M Night Shyamalan usually delivers a thought-provoking, unique looking final product. This one, while not one of his better efforts, is no exception.
Roger Ebert fell in love with the insight shown by the characters in the midst of a wake-up call from nature. I say it is a terrific premise, and one most of us have at least thought about, yet it falls way short of showing us the insight of people into their own lives. Granted the dialog is limited, but most of these people just seemed dazed and confused.
None of the sub-plots are well developed and we are left to do most of the thinking and consideration ourselves. The talented director really just throws the idea out there. Actually, very little happens other than a few people are frozen in time until they walk backwards and harm themselves. The film does come alive briefly during the segments with Ft Worth's own Betty Buckley as Mrs. Jones, one of the most bizarre senior citizens whom could ever hope to encounter.
With all the missed opportunities and "inside jokes" like the nursery owner (Frank Collison) proclaiming his love of hot dogs, this one borders on boring rather than melancholy. Sadly Zooey Deschanel and Mark Wahlberg show little in their roles and John Leguizamo's sniveling role is an embarrassment for all men and his judgment is certainly outside the realm of reasonable. Don't miss Spencer Breslin's (Abigail's brother) brief, but fun role.
All said, this would have made a better Twilight Zone or Outer Limits episode since Night refused to work too hard on this one.