“Blue” merely a lukewarm getaway
Spike Lee once said “making films has got to be one of the hardest endeavors known to humankind. Straight up and down, film work is hard.” Anyone who’s worked on a film knows that you have to constantly deal with unpredictable issues like expensive, intricate equipment, people, opposing creative powers and weather, just to name a few. Because filmmaking is tough, it’s no surprise, really, that we have movies like “Into the Blue.” This is a movie that, for whatever reason, doesn’t excite much, let alone thrill (which is what it wants to do). Be it the casting, acting, or writing, “Blue” fails to stay afloat.
The story is decent enough. Jared (Paul Walker) is a disgruntled, part-time underwater treasure hunter who longs to own his own business and strike it rich. His wise girlfriend, Sam (Jessica Alba) is already happy with life, as long as she and Jared are together. Along with some friends, Jared and Sam discover ancient remnants of the famous Zephyr ship, meaning Jared might get the break he longs for. The problem is, they also stumble onto a sunken plane full of smuggled drugs, which the local drug lord and police are hunting. You can guess where this is going – word eventually gets out, and the group of divers fight for their treasure and lives during the second half of the film.
The theme is simple enough: riches don’t bring happiness; love and companionship do. But the movie’s execution doesn’t match the noble notion, as it is toned down in every sense. First off, you’d judge from the trailer and movie poster that this is a made-for-teens-skin-and-slasher flick. But it’s not even that. Yes, the skin shown merits the PG-13 rating, as does the graphic violence, but neither is over the top. And while thrillers can work best when subtle (see M. Night Shyamalan), “Blue” banally avoids either extreme.
With the tropical location, you’d also expect the colors to be vibrant and florid, yet the cinematography seemed content with washed out turquoise.
Secondly, it’s tough to care for the characters, protagonist or antagonist. If you’re a stickler for good acting, “Blue” will drive you nuts. Alba’s acting is fine enough, but unfulfilling. She’s not a scene stealer. There’s one scene that requires serious emotion of Alba, and she never reaches the emotional depths that satisfy. And Paul Walker again seems to be the new Keanu Reeves. The two villains, however, are at least interesting to watch. Josh Brolin (Brandt from “Goonies”) and Tyson Beckford (“Zoolander”) did well with their material. It’s the little things that make a difference, like voice tone, posture, subtle activities and movements that convey the character’s goals. If you commit yourself to seeing this flick, at least you’ll enjoy Brolin’s talent.
Lastly, the action sequences found a good groove in the third act, but it was too little, too late. The movie would have benefited from more scenes relying on plot devices requiring characters to outsmart each other. What if the group of friends became bitter enemies, letting greed really rear its ugly head?
If you liked “The Fast and the Furious,” you might like “Into the Blue.” “Furious” had a better sense of character arc and development. To enjoy this movie, though, enter the theater with a lot of friends and no expectations. Like me, you may leave the theater looking forward to seeing movies that work.
Chris Blakesley is a film critic for the Utah Statesman. He can be contacted at
cblakes@cc.usu.edu.