Debt is no stranger to the American population. We seem to love to take on more than we can handle. A spontaneous trip to Vegas, new car, or $100 jacket don’t seem too out of reach when you can just swipe that handy plastic card that makes putting off responsibility a little too easy. But what if those items you so eagerly put on credit were a little more important. A new liver, functional knee cap, or beating heart ready-made just for you and on an affordable payment plan…with 20% interest.
This is the world of the newest sci-fi film, Repo Men, starring Jude Law (The Aviator, Sherlock Holmes) and Forest Whitaker (Vantage Point, Phone Booth). Set in a future where any organ can be manufactured, Remy (Jude Law) and Jake (Forest Whitaker) are best friends who are hired by “The Union” to repossess organs on which payments are passed due. After an on-the-job accident Remy is implanted with an artificial heart and can no longer perform his repo man duties. When he falls behind on payments Remy is sent on the run and decides to fight back against The Union and its men, surprise, surprise.
Repo Men could have been good, it had the potential to make sense, send a message, and entertain all at the same time. Instead, it was all over the place, predictable, and comically bad. The movie starts out somewhat strong. It makes you want to know where they are going with organ reposession concept, until you realize it’s no place you want to be. It ends with (slight SPOILER ALERT) one of a classic twist with no explanation which leaves the audience annoyed. The conclusiopn makes no sense because it is absolutely UNNECESSARY. The writer’s didn’t need a way out, they’d wrapped everything up, created a relatively happy ending, mended relationships, and yet still decided to jump the shark and mess with your mind with an unclever addition to the already underdeveloped plot.
The plot is filled with holes (having to personally pay in full for your on-the-job injury?) and clichés. Creating a first person narrative from Remy’s perspective could have added a lot of depth to this story, but the rarity of his internal dialogue makes audiences almost forget there is any at all. Not to mention the Sweeney Todd-like violence that is much more over the top than cool. Another place Repo Men fails is the obvious opportunity to create a message about the current healthcare reform debate. What better venue than a world where healthcare has been one hundred percent deregulated and privatized to imply a message one way or another on a current, relevent issue? I’m not saying all movies need some grand message, but in a plot so blatantly opportunistic to this opportunity, Repo Men could have done something.
In an effort to find an upside Repo Men doesn’t give much to go off of. The whole barcode viral marketing for the film was new and clever. Jude Law and Forest Whitaker didn’t suck and the camera work, which aided wholeheartedly in creating a futuristic feel and visually pleasing fight scenes, is commendable. And, that’s about it.
My advice? Read the book, it’s undoubtedly better than this dibacle of a movie.
