Maximum potential, minimum entertainment

Rating: 4/10 (1 December 2000)

In contrast with his earlier film (Sixth Sense), M. Night Shyamalan presents the audience with a slow-paced, ludicrous plot which sadly denies the potential that the movie has lurking beneath its dull exterior. Perhaps the first indication that the movie was as derailed as the ill-fated train came when David began to wonder if he had ever been sick -- oh, come on. The performances by Robin Wright and Spencer Treat Clark were almost believable; Samuel L. Jackson limped his way through the film as though the story itself was enough to cripple; Bruce Willis's interpretation of the common man living a life of denial came across more like a sedated cretin who needed a miraculous and unbelievable incident (the train wreck) to give him the hint ....... When the ending came, it was about 60 minutes too late, as the inane plot had since ceased to wax entertaining.
But, if Shyamalan had taken the picture along a different course -- then Unbreakable might have been worthwhile entertainment. My guess is that Unbreakable began as a wonderful idea but suffered from a misguided effort to bring the story into a very serious and rational vehicle. Super heroes should be glorified and the dozens of questions that were unanswered by the film needed to be answered.