You got good news Bruce - so lighten up a little

Rating: 6/10 (13 August 2002)

I have never considered myself a huge Bruce Willis fan, although I have to say that whenever I have watched one of his films I've always found them entertaining or at least interesting. Sadly, this one gets no further than the interesting category.
It's a real oddity, owing a huge debt to 'Sixth Sense' in terms of its slow rhythmic pacing and general look. After a while though, the toned down colour and the melancholic mood begin to grate - even bore. The plot doesn't really unfold as it is obvious what will happen from the first fifteen minutes - strangely though (and somewhat unbelievably) it takes Bruce Willis' character much longer to work out what he is, despite the fact that you'd have thought he'd have noticed his apparent indestructibility before reaching the age he is.
Nevertheless, the most frustrating thing about it is that it should be a feelgood type of film. Let's face it, it's a fantasy where the hero has discovered great gifts - so why must it be so downbeat. Lighten up a little Bruce!
And yet . . . despite all these reservations, it IS interesting - and many would even say enjoyable.