Chain Reaction (1996)

Title: Chain Reaction
Director: Andrew Davis
Genre: Action
Highs: Cool fantasy technology.
Lows: This movie has like a message or something.
RhynoBot Grade: D

Hmm. This movie is a bit of a conundrum. It has everything an action movie typically needs to be somewhat successful. Director? Check - Davis has brought us action movies like "Collateral Damage" and "The Fugitive". Good action cast? Check - Keanu Reeves ("The Matrix"), Rachel Weisz ("The Mummy"), Fred Ward ("Tremors", "The Right Stuff"). A credible dramatic actor to tie it all together? Check - Morgan Freeman fits that bill with honors. It all seems to be in place but I find myself asking, what went wrong? Why was I not entertained like I should have been?

OK, let's look at the basic premise. A group of scientist develop new technology for separating hydrogen from water, creating a cheap re-usable fuel source for the entire world. Said technology is hijacked by entities unknown and all evidence is destroyed. But oops unknown entity destroyed everything too quickly and forgot about the most important piece that makes everything work. Who could possibly have this information, hmm, who could it be I wonder??? Oh look it Keanu Reeves, he has the missing piece of information, we better chase him to get it. And oh look who is with him, it's Rachel Weisz the brainy scientist that seems to be completely defenseless and can't do anything for herself, good thing she's with Keanu. And oh look it Morgan Freeman who happens to be a mole and the leader of the unknown entity that turns out to be a secret government agency. And what, Morgan Freeman's crazed right hand man in the agency has framed Keanu and Rachel for the destruction of the lab, international espionage, and the murder of the project leader? Well we better call the FBI and send in Fred Ward to chase them with out any credible evidence or witnesses.

OH PLEASE! GIVE ME AN F-ING BREAK! Plus we get the message already. Fossil fuels are being consumed, we need a cleaner fuel source. OK, thanks, we get it.

Don't see this movie. It's basically bits and pieces of other action movies snipped and edited together with a relatively big name cast to trick people into thinking it will be good. Morgan Freeman - shame on you for accepting this piece of crap.

It's not worth your time, you can skip it.