Len Wiseman’s Total Recall (2012) Movie Review

Genre: Drama, Sci-Fi
Director: Len Wiseman
Writers: Kurt Wimmer, Mark Bomback, Ronald Shusett, Dan O’Bannon, Jon Povill, Philip K. Dick
Studio: Columbia Pictures
Censor: UA
Runtime: 115 Minutes

Synopsis: Douglas Quaid (Colin Farrell), even though he’s got a beautiful wife (Kate Beckinsale) who he loves, the mind-trip sounds like the perfect vacation from his frustrating life – real memories of life as a super-spy might be just what he needs. But when the procedure goes horribly wrong, Quaid becomes a hunted man. Finding himself on the run from the police – controlled by Chancellor Cohaagen (Bryan Cranston), the leader of the free world – Quaid teams up with a rebel fighter (Jessica Biel) to find the head of the underground resistance (Bill Nighy) and stop Cohaagen.

Performances: The cast is fine, but no one really makes an effort to excel. In a Remake where Colin Farrell needed to interpose over the top steps of an actor like Arnold Schwarzenegger, He remains neither queasy nor extraordinary. He is just there, that’s what the major drawback for the film. Kate Beckinsale is arguably the best vista about the flick. She has TOTAL fun with her character and Jessica Biel is fine in her act. Both the female leads are not even closer to Sharon Stone or Rachel Ticotin. The one real bright point is Bryan Cranston as Vilos Cohaagen, head villain. Rests of the characters were OK.

Technicality: Total Recall, a loose remake of the 1990 film of the same name, inspired by the famous short story “We Can Remember It for You Wholesale” by Philip K. Dick. Writers Kurt Wimmer, Mark Bomback, Ronald Shusett, Dan O’Bannon, Jon Povill and Philip K. Dick have taken the old plot in the book, did some changes and haven’t even bothered to make it engaging till the end. This Total Recall’s screenplay is juiceless. Director Les Weisman (Underworld series, Live Free or Die Hard fame) tries to refurbish this formulation film with some innovative sequences, but doesn’t really provide a style. This Total Recall uses action in a flashy way as opposed to using it to move the narrative forward-action in the original all felt necessary. It’s interesting to see how futuristic technology was used to create innovate scenarios for chases and fight scenes. Christian Wagner’s editing is alright. Harry Gregson-Williams’s music fits the scenes very well. Cinematography by Paul Cameron is effective, especially in the action scenes.

Survi Verdict: Latest Total Recall is nothing more than a fainéant, dumb, soulless studio exerted furled in an alluring sci-fi visuals. “Total Recall” feel like an unnecessary reboot, skip “Total Recall” (2012), rent “Total Recall” (1990) instead.

Survi Review: 2/5

Theatrical Trailer: