An Allegory for Our Times

I'm always a little suspicious when your first thought about a movie is that someone set out to create a allegory for our times. I'm all for allegory, but it needs to flow naturally from the story rather than sublimate the story.

That's what happens with The Day the Earth Stood Still, the remake starring Keanu Reeves and Jennifer Connelly. The story lumbers along as we learn whether humankind can be trusted to save the environment. Klaatu (Reeves) says no, so he's prepared to wipe people off the earth. Can Klaatu be convinced that we can be responsible protectors of our planet before he destroys it?

The only interesting question to ponder is whether Klaatu is a good guy or a bad guy. Ultimately, that's not enough to make the film interesting.

The story is never particularly engaging and the special effects never quite thrilling. The acting is leaden. Reeves justifies a deadpan persona as part of his alien in America characterization. Connelly and Kathy Bates, as the secretary of defense, are just plain weak.

The Day the Earth Stood Still is a mediocre film. Not a horrible way to spend a snowy afternoon, but nothing memorable after an hour. Story first, message later folks.