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★★½☆☆
23 March 2020
A movie review of SYNCHRONIC. |
Ds: Justin Benson, Aaron Moorhead (THE ENDLESS, SPRING).
S: Anthony Mackie, Jamie Dornan, Katie Aselton, Ally Ioannides, Ramiz Monsef.
“The victim is good, the world is still f*cked up,” Steve (Anthony Mackie)
SYNCHRONIC is a B-movie, with an A-movie lead. It’s not a disaster. It’s a bit bonkers, but not in an exciting way. The movie strives for originality, which one almost always applauds. However, here the conceit is almost laughably random. I did like that the two leads are paramedics. Ambulance teams are not the focus enough in cinema. More films, with public service personnel thrown into extraordinary circumstances, please.
At the scene of a death, Steve talks to the body, quoting Albert Einstein, “The distinction between the past, present and future is only a stubbornly persistent illusion.” The line heavy-handedly serves several character purposes, including showing his humanity, his education, and his open-mindedness. (Steve even has a dog named Hawking.) Typically in buddy movie fashion, his partner, here Dennis (Jamie Dornan), is the opposite, both in outlook and situation. Steve is single and a ladies’ man, while Dennis is a family man with an 18-year old daughter, Brianna (Ally Ioannides), and a baby. SYNCHRONIC is a sci-fi LETHAL WEAPON [1987] with paramedics.
S: Anthony Mackie, Jamie Dornan, Katie Aselton, Ally Ioannides, Ramiz Monsef.
“The victim is good, the world is still f*cked up,” Steve (Anthony Mackie)
SYNCHRONIC is a B-movie, with an A-movie lead. It’s not a disaster. It’s a bit bonkers, but not in an exciting way. The movie strives for originality, which one almost always applauds. However, here the conceit is almost laughably random. I did like that the two leads are paramedics. Ambulance teams are not the focus enough in cinema. More films, with public service personnel thrown into extraordinary circumstances, please.
At the scene of a death, Steve talks to the body, quoting Albert Einstein, “The distinction between the past, present and future is only a stubbornly persistent illusion.” The line heavy-handedly serves several character purposes, including showing his humanity, his education, and his open-mindedness. (Steve even has a dog named Hawking.) Typically in buddy movie fashion, his partner, here Dennis (Jamie Dornan), is the opposite, both in outlook and situation. Steve is single and a ladies’ man, while Dennis is a family man with an 18-year old daughter, Brianna (Ally Ioannides), and a baby. SYNCHRONIC is a sci-fi LETHAL WEAPON [1987] with paramedics.
New Orleans, Louisiana, a new designer drug is found at the scene. Turns out that when consumed, it can make the user involuntarily time travel. Brianna takes it and goes missing. Steve discovers the properties. The only one who seems to know, and takes it upon himself to rescue his bestie’s daughter. SYNCHRONIC is so high concept, as to be almost in the territory of a joke. Think HOT TUB TIME MACHINE [2010]. At one point, Steve utters the line, “It’s kangaroo-sh*t loony.” Yep. There is no talk of the butterfly effect, or AVENGERS: ENDGAME [2019] diverging time branches.
Anthony Mackie is charismatic and watchable. There aren’t many movie stars who could sell this; Mackie gives a good a go as anyone. SYNCHRONIC is a cross between LIMITLESS [2011] and THE TIME TRAVELLER'S WIFE [2009].
Was this meant to be the directors’ calling card for bigger things? SYNCHRONIC’s stylish touches are present in a variety of forms, from the floating camera and neat editing to the nifty visual effects. There also political observations. Steve encounters a conquistador, a Klansman, a Civil War soldier, etc., showing racism across time. Bravo to the layers brought.
SYCHRONIC jumps from a dark opening to cheesy fun. It lurches tonally from BRINGING OUT THE DEAD [1999] to BACK TO THE FUTURE [1985]. Unfortunately, the end result is not as engaging as that might sound.