Carol (Kidman) is a psychiatrist raising her son Olly (Bond) alone. Her uninvolved ex, Tucker (Northam), works in disease control, while a third doctor, Ben (Craig), offers Carol support and clearly wants more. Then an epidemic of Stepford Husband behaviour breaks out, and even Tucker takes a sudden, uncharacteristic interest in Olly's life. It has something to do with a recent Space Shuttle crash, contaminated debris and a sentient body snatching virus. Can Carol and Ben rescue Olly and find an antidote with the help of doctor No 4 (Wright)?

Some clever touches update this story meaningfully to the current world, weaving in global political issues much as the original film did with the Cold War. But these things will only be discovered by curious viewers trying to look beyond the otherwise muddled plot, which indulges in one corny action scene after another. And Kidman is allowed to get away with a Marilyn Monroe impersonation, complete with whispered dialog, pouting lips and overly glamorous outfits. She still manages to generate emotional resonance, as well as some intriguingly muted chemistry with Craig, whose role isn't terribly demanding.

Terrific throwaway lines touch on social evolution ("Five hundred years ago there was no such thing as a postmodern feminist") and human nature (when the virus takes root, peace breaks out around the globe, including between George W Bush and Hilary Clinton, in a blink-and-miss-it gag). And there's a clever parallel between the virus and psychotropic drugs designed to make us feel better.

The real mystery is why these intelligent ideas are buried in the trappings of a brainless action movie. Perhaps this is the sign of Hollywood meddling, as they pander to undemanding audiences. It's consistently entertaining, but sequences ring oddly false, right up to an utterly bonkers crazy-zombie car chase, followed by a cheesy coda that gets shamelessly preachy. In other words, there's an astute remake somewhere in here, but we can only barely see it.

themes, language, violence

12.Oct.07