Total Recall Blu-ray Review

3rd Jan 2013

I can’t believe I didn’t like it. Sci-fi, credible lead actors, remake of a classic, what could go wrong? Well it’s just lazy. It doesn’t feel important or fun enough. However, there are three reasons why you should watch it; it’s very pretty, Bryan Cranston is (just about) in it and hey ho, it’s ok Sunday morning post-hangover viewing.

Forget the original film, this is a whole new story and style. Dennis Quaid (Colin Farrell) is a bored factory minion who decides to get a new set of memories embedded into his subconscious to spice up his life. He discovers that he’s not actually a spy working for the resistance (or is he?) and tries to find himself, encountering homicidal spouses (Kate Beckinsale) and loyal lieutenants (Jessica Biel) on the way.

Both Colin Farrell and Jessica Biel are very good and do give great performances, but it’s just a shame that the film is so boring. Bryan Cranston is not in it for anywhere near long enough, but is interviewed in the extras and he’s really funny in it, which is pretty much the only reason to buy the extended version. Kate Beckinsale is terrible and I’m a fan of hers from the Underworld films. In fairness I’ve never noticed how terrible she is because in Underworld she plays a character who is slightly antiquated, stiff and detached from reality. I thought that was her impression of a Vampire; I didn’t realise that was the way she acted.

The 2-disc version is a bit of a stretch, there is a gag reel, a docu and some featurettes, which for me does not a 2-disc version make. The ‘gag reel’ is not funny, why not just point the camera at Bryan Cranston’s face the whole time? However, it is worth watching if only for the hilarious/terrible animation in the documentary. And the mad scientist.

I’m not sure where it falls, it’s non-comparable to the fun, campy OTT original and it’s not asking any of the important questions of credible sci-fi films. It just feels like a lot of well-choreographed set pieces around a flimsy plot. That does not a film make.

I will say that the blu-ray edition is beautiful to watch and for that reason, you should watch it. The sets and the visual effects are stunning, particularly in the first half of the film. They’ve also referenced a lot of other sci-fi films, most notably Blade Runner. The problem with this is that I then went and re-watched Blade Runner and Total Recall just came off even more superficial and vacuous. Destined to not be recalled*.