Next (2007)

Overall rating from 1 to 100: 74

O Masterpiece (95-100)
O Excellent (75-94)
X Good video rental (60-74)
O Merely OK (50-59)
O Pure mediocrity (30-49)
O Medusa: don’t watch (1-29)

Review by Jason Pyles / May 3, 2007

“Next” has been unfairly scorned. But this conclusion comes from a man who loves “Independence Day” (1996) and “Armageddon” (1998). Every once in a while, I’m willing to deal with dumb dialogue and some weak acting for a compelling premise that’s highlighted by decent special effects.

But “Next” doesn’t really fall in with the aforementioned movies and their noisy, fiery explosions in space. Instead, “Next” is akin to “The Dead Zone” (1983), “Minority Report” (2002), and “Deja Vu” (2006), because it’s also about preventing catastrophes by seeing the future. Essentially, in simplest form, “Next” is about a modest superhero.

Cris Johnson (Nicolas Cage) possesses a gift that is a blessing and a curse: He can see up to two minutes into his own future. Take two minutes to think of the possibilities. “Next” shows us some of those possibilities: For example, Johnson can avoid his own car wreck or capture. He can also “test” his pick-up lines to see which approach won’t get him shot down in flames. It doesn’t take pre-cognitive abilities to see how this could be a fun talent.

But it can also be not fun. As the movie points out, there are no surprises for Johnson. (Luckily, “Next” is selective about which foreseen flashes it reveals to us and which ones it doesn’t; thus, the movie still has surprises.)

The FBI wants Johnson. Why is he wanted? Because Johnson can help the FBI by “seeing” the details surrounding an imminent detonation of a stolen nuclear weapon on U.S. soil. Johnson doesn’t want to help because he’s afraid of being the government’s lab rat for the rest of his days. He’d rather look toward a future with Liz (Jessica Biel).

As I mentioned, it is true that the director and screenplay writers should be slapped around for allowing some of this dialogue and some of these actors’ performances to stay in the movie. (Surely there must have been some pre-screening or test-screening process.)

But the lame dialogue and acting aren’t what really bothers people about this movie: I submit that people are ultimately angry about the way the movie takes its own gimmick to the extreme with its ending: a foregone (yet obvious) conclusion that is apparently disconcerting and unsatisfying for many.

But to me, the ending is bold, unique and new. I like “Next,” and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it, just as I’d recommend “Independence Day” and “Armageddon,” despite myself (and probably everybody else).

Directed by Lee Tamahori
Nicolas Cage / Jessica Biel / Julianne Moore
96 min. Action / Thriller
MPAA: PG-13 (for intense sequences of violent action, and some language)

Copyright 2007.
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