It’s not fair to call this the stupidest movie of 2019. The year is only two weeks old—and besides, it was originally supposed to be the stupidest movie of 2017, before it got shelved. An affectless Keanu Reeves whisper-mumbles his way through the role of Will Foster, a biotech engineer who secretly grows clones of his wife (Alice Eve) and children after their tragic deaths, using technology and equipment stolen from the shadowy research facility where he works. Thomas Middleditch (HBO’s
Silicon Valley) is on hand as Will's brainy/snarky assistant, the person who says things like “What if something horrible goes wrong?” and “Let’s pump the brakes on the crazy train, all right?” The premise grants ample potential for horror, thrills and/or comedy, but the lazy screenplay (by Chad St. John, of
London Has Fallen and
Peppermint), flat direction (by Jeffrey Nachmanoff) and lifeless performances (by everyone) create a dumb, tedious mess laden with glaring plot holes and general imbecility.
By
Eric D. Snider