‘Surrogates’ is Solid Sci-Fi
-----Looking at the trailer of ‘Surrogates,’ one may very well find themselves thinking of numerous other movies. Indeed, it turns out to be a blend of many of the last decade’s science fiction exploits. And yet, it somehow manages to be its own movie. ‘Surrogates’ sure isn’t a classic, but it is a fun sci-fi outing that remains entertaining thanks to a strong performance from star Bruce Willis.
-----‘Surrogates’ is set 14 years in the future, where the development of androids has reached a stage that allows humans to live through robotic counterparts known as “Surrogates.” The idea is that people are to be perfectly safe at home, hooked up to their Surrogates, with none of the dangers of real life. This idea is shattered when a Surrogate gets destroyed and it consequently kills the person controlling it at home.
-----Bruce Willis is a silver screen legend. Few will argue this fact, and for good reason. Not only is he an action icon for his work in roles like John McClain of the ‘Die Hard’ franchise, but Willis can also bring a human side to the screen, as he proved in films like ‘The Sixth Sense’ and ‘Unbreakable.’ Among the many variations of his persona, Willis is often a blend of hero and human, as he is here in ‘Surrogates.’ He brings such a realism and poise to the role of Detective Tom Greer, that he is able to keep even the film’s slower moments entertaining. And that’s not to mention his ability to play a nearly emotionless robot. Willis carries the movie, and ultimately becomes the deciding factor on whether or not the film itself is worth seeing. He’s really the only main character, with some small supporting roles from Rosamund Pike as Willis’ wife, Radha Mitchell as Willis’ partner, and James Cromwell as the inventor of Surrogates. It is worth noting that Cromwell, also inventor of the robots in ‘I, Robot,’ plays an almost parallel character here, given the stories’ similarities.
-----Perhaps the most notable failure of ‘Surrogates’ is its swift escape from your mind as the credits roll. Upon leaving the theater, you’ll recall a good time, but much of the film is liable to quickly fade from your memory. And while ‘Surrogates’ may be a victim of what some might consider a bit of an anticlimactic ending, I actually found this to be somewhat of a plus for the film. Avoiding the end-all battles and convolution that comes with trying to fit an epic into 80 minutes, the film instead wraps up quickly and nicely. There is plenty of ambiguity and uncertainty left for the viewer to decide, but it is far more satisfying than the quick wrap-up that would come with a film trying to do too much, as was the case with this month’s other sci-fi outing, ‘Gamer.’ By the time the ending twist comes about, the audience will witness a well executed, clean cut resolution to the story.
-----‘Surrogates’ has a feel of neo noir at times, though this is rarely apparent. For the most part, the film is a mash-up of various preceding sci-fi movies, molded into its own, self-reliant story. ‘The Matrix,’ ‘Wall-E,’ and particularly ‘I, Robot’ are among the films whose ideas lent a hand in the creation of ‘Surrogates.’ And while the film is hardly anything classic or even very memorable, it remains a good one, worth seeing at least once; even if there’s no immediate call for a second viewing. And while that is typically a sign that a film can merely be rented, Willis’ strong, engaging performance is enough to constitute a second viewing, if the chance ever conveniently presents itself; like once in theaters, and maybe once as a rental, for instance. As far as I’m concerned, Willis operates at a level that should drive the theater-familiar moviegoer into the cinema.
-----Most of the energy behind the camera comes in at the makeup and effects department. Bruce Willis looks artificially younger as a Surrogate, greatly resembling his appearance in 2007’s ‘Perfect Stranger.’ Many of the film’s most provocative images come from the comparisons of the musty people sitting at home to their flawless Surrogates in the real world. Some people are even altered to the point of being unrecognizable, though in these instances different actors were used. There is also the occasional action scene, though many have stereotyped the film as overloaded with big budget effects sequences. This is not the case; there is really only one action packed chase scene, with most of the film taking pride in the subtleties of the atmosphere and the story itself.
-----‘Surrogates’ comes off as somewhat of a one-time see, but for its style, not its quality. For instance, you probably won’t need to see ‘The Sixth Sense,’ an undisputed classic, very often or very frequently; it’s just the nature of the story being told. Re-watch-ability isn’t everything. With ‘Surrogates,’ avid moviegoers and Willis die-hards (yes, I did just make that pun) will want to see this one in theaters, and may very well revisit it as a rental. It’s never too spectacular, but it’s consistently intriguing, always well acted, and it boasts an inspiringly ambiguous ending. Bottom line, ‘Surrogates’ is a self-contained sci-fi outing that sticks to its strengths and comes out on top.
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