Eye Candy #118 - "Gamer"

Gamer: Commentary on people’s obsession with violence and libidinous behavior in pop culture is nothing new. In fact, in many ways, “Gamer” is simply “Running Man” for the 21st century minus Buzzsaw and Dynamo (though Michael C. Hall as Ken Castle does seem to be channeling Richard Dawson). In the near future, people play two different online reality games invented and controlled by Castle: “Society”, where people can interact through other real humans that are paid to let others control their actions; and “Slayers”, which involves convicted criminals engaging in live-fire gun battles, while being “piloted” by players from around the world. If the criminals survive 30 matches, they go free. The lead “slayer” is Kable (Gerard Butler), who has almost reached the milestone 30th match. He is “piloted” by Simon, a rich teenager who is the idol of his peers because of Kable’s success. However, there is an anti-”Society“ & ”Slayers” movement called “Humanz” that is out to end the reign of the nanite technology that drives both games. Castle also has plans for Kable don‘t bode well for Kable‘s long-term health. So Kable works to escape the game and save his wife and daughter. Directed by Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor, who gave us the various “Crank” movies (which visually this looks and feels a whole lot like), this is a frenetic, over-the-top action movie, with lots of guns, explosions, and gore. The violence is extreme to the point of absurdity, as is Hall’s southern drawl and performance as Castle (not to mention his musical number). Kable doesn’t seem far removed from “Crank’s” Chelios (nor are his motivations all that different), so Neveldine and Taylor are mining familiar territory here, but it’s missing the wicked sense of humor of the “Crank” films. Nothing really remarkable here. This movie is trying DESPERATELY to be profound and doesn’t make it. Woodchuck sez, “Skip it.”