Review: ‘The Double’
1. You know, I kind of miss "24." It was a ridiculous show, chock-full of out-of-nowhere plot turns and nonsensical double crosses, with every character other than Jack Bauer and his loyal sidekick Chloe switching allegiances literally every 20 minutes and no problem that couldn't be resolved by a pair of electrical wires to the genitals. This lunacy was inherent in the show's construction; you can't get into much detail when you need conflict and resolution every hour for 24 consecutive hours that still tie in to some overarching story. Fans of the show, like me, built that into our response. Its stupidity was a big part of the fun. I don't know what "The Double"'s excuse is.
2. Honestly, "The Double" could use even an ounce of "24"'s urgency; for some reason, "The Double" thinks it's a real thriller, so it plays all its scenes straight, as if its plot isn't moldy and so shopworn it has callouses. The movie has been delayed a couple of times, but that wouldn't explain why "The Double" feels so elderly and plodding and out-of-date. (That is, unless it has been delayed since 1987. Lemme check ... nope, it has not been delayed since 1987.) Sure, it has double-crosses, and hidden identities, but they all seem a little bored, lacking the energy to even pretend to try to surprise you. It barely has the vigor to stay awake itself, let alone keep you occupied.
3. Richard Gere, who in his attempts to hold onto his youthful looks is beginning to resemble an old chair, plays Paul Shepherdson, a retired CIA officer who spent most of his career chasing down a Russian assassin named Cassius. He's called back in by his old boss Martin Sheen -- speaking of people who look bored, I'm not sure Sheen's face moves in this movie -- to catch Cassius, who has apparently returned to his killin' ways. He is paired with a young upstart academic Hah-vahd agent who wrote his thesis on Cassius, and probably you need to know about this movie is that he's played by Topher Grace. (Grace is very earnest in showing us that he would like to play an action role someday. He should perhaps not hold his breath.) And then the twists and turns happen, such as they are.
4. But first: Topher Grace Chase Scene! There are a couple, and Gere gets his "What Lies Beneath" on by trying to play against type as a badass. It doesn't really work, particularly because the movie keeps selling him out. Every time he's about to go full bad guy, the movie hands him a crutch to make him sympathetic and allow him to get all dewy-eyed Gere sincere on us. Grace isn't much help; the only real chance he has to break out of whatever weird box he's in is going to have to be playing against his baby face rather than for it. Idealist family men like his character here do him no favors, particularly with an out-of-nowhere, preposterous "turn" at the end of the film that you'll only believe if you've never heard of the term "reshoot," and probably not even then.
5. "The Double" is old laundry, a limp, doddering would-be thriller that desperately needs Jack Bauer to show up and start shooting things and yelling at people. Instead, we get Gere kind of playing against type and Grace trying to build up his CV and Sheen not quite sure what movie he's in. I feel kind of bad giving so little energy into reviewing this movie, but honestly, the movie seems pretty comfortable just wheezing around for 90 minutes and going along its way. Why shouldn't I feel the same?
Grade: D+
