The film opens with Mulder (Duchovny) standing outside Joliet State Correctional Institute with a suitcase in hand.
Pulling up in an old police car bought at auction is Scully (Gillian Anderson).
Oh wait, thats the plot ofThe Blues Brothers.
If you need a psychic wrangler, who better than Mr. Unexplained Phenomenon himself, the legendary Fox Mulder?
Theres nothing overtlyX-Filesfeeling about the events of the story.
Theres no real creepiness factor.
Mulder and Scully are basically irrelevant, as is the X-Files tie in.
A suspense movie needs teeth;I Want to Believesettles for gums.
The performances from all involved are good, but nothing special.
Duchovny and Anderson will always be Mulder and Scully to the fans of the show.
Billy Connolly is subtle but effective as Father Joe, restraining the urge to turn Joes faith into zealotry.
Theres an established universe, why not use it more effectively?
Its like Carter and Spotnitz decided to completely wash their hands of everything that happened in theX-Filesuniverse after 2000.
Its possible I expected way too much from this film in comparison to the lastX-Filesfilm.
Perhaps I was doomed to disappointment from the very beginning.
This didnt feel like a movie, just a pilot designed to gauge interest in a newX-Filesseries.
Ive seen worse, but Ive also seen better.
Three stars is a bit high, but two stars is a bit harsh.
Ill give it 3, but under protest.
US correspondent Ron Hogan has nothing particularly funny or sharp to say here.
Find more by Ron at hisblog, Subtle Bluntness, and daily atShaktronics
Rating:
3 out of 5
