“Godsend” (Lion’s Gate Pictures)
Greg Kinnear, Rebecca Romijn-Stamos and Robert De Niro star in the new thriller (and I use that term loosely) “Godsend.” They should all be ashamed of themselves for this is one of the worst acted, worst scripted, worst directed movies of the year. In short it is a mess.
Kinnear and Romijn-Stamos play Paul and Jessie who are the parents of an eight-year-old son, Adam (Cameron Bright). Shortly after his eighth birthday Jessie negligently allows Adam to stand outside a store while she shops. He is hit by a car and killed. Both parents are devastated.
Shortly after Adam’s funeral Dr. Richard Wells (De Niro) comes to them with a plan. He can clone Adam and implant the new tissue in Jessie. They will get their son back as good as new. Paul is resistant to this plan. You can tell because his brow furrows and he chews on his lip. Jessie is all for it. She would be since her carelessness caused the first kid’s death.
In no time it is eighth birthday time for the new kid (also played by Bright, and also called Adam). This Adam starts having bad dreams and draws a picture of a house burning. He also talks a lot about a kid named Zachary who doesn’t exist. Brrrrr. Chills!! I don’t think so. Laughs are more likely.
Nothing in this movie is scary. Nothing in this movie makes any sense. And nothing in this movie is enjoyable. When it finally ends it is like we have seen half the movie and the rest is to come in the next few months. Kind of like “Kill Bill” but without the fun. The only problem is there are no plans for a second half so we are stuck with what we have here – and that is really being stuck.
The actor who comes off worst in the movie is De Niro. You keep expecting him to let you in on the joke, and he doesn’t. For obviously there is no joke except the one played on the audience in getting them to plunk down their dollars to get to see this movie. Ha Ha the jokes on you!
The movie is rated PG-13 for profanity and violence.
The truth is that “Godsend” is God-awful. The only blessing the movie delivers is its ending which allows you to escape the boredom of the film. Greg Kinnear had a good career going there for a while. With “Godsend” it comes to a screeching halt.
I scored “Godsend” a send back 3 out of 10.
