Made me care more for my ficus...just in case.

Rating: 6/10 (29 June 2008)

People love to rip Shyamalan's films to pieces, though the only bore-fest he made, is hailed as his masterpiece. Well, I enjoy Mighty Nighty's apparent schlock. He always has something meaningful to say about everyday life and this time it apparently was...be nice to..plants(?) and in extension of that message, respect mother earth. (I was hoping of a shot of a crying Indian...sorry native-American to conclude the film)
Yes granted the premise what incredible or incredulous - take your pick- of all plant life giving off pheromones to entice us to seek our own graphic and painful demise, (Some science for you; the actual pheromone featured in the film, is the organic equivalent of the electronic impulse your TV generates when the new Ron Moore's Battle Star Gallactica is on.) Once again, Shyamalan writes a strange screenplay. It is not bad, it of course does not reflect how real people communicate; the script and drama are stylized according to the major conflict that has bearing on all that takes place and Shyamalan tries make us think about human nature. In his old movies, he did this with broad dramatic strokes and clearly definable moments of dramatic importance. In "Lady in the water" and again in "the Happening" the drama becomes smaller, not breaking beyond the characters, it's all recognizable drama, not towering with great bravado of human existence like "Unbreakable."
There is of course one major flaw, the movie creeps on and on, never revealing enough to keep you on the edge of your seat, the actual threat is a swiftly divulged mystery and there's no "Holy Macaroni" plot-twist, but lot's of gory deaths kept me interested.
As for the acting; In a world where Russell Crowe gets nominated for an Oscar, I can live with a bland Marky-Mark playing the blandest of all high-school teachers (save for math-teachers); a quirky biology teacher.
So Granted yes, "The Happening" is the least happening film in Shyamalan's current oeuvre, but it isn't bad. It fairly thrilling and it has some nice characters.
And France was next of Mother's earth list of retribution! So that's a perfect ending.