The concept for “Gamer†is something totally different than what has been showcased in theaters this summer. It’s not a romance comedy centered around two co-workers, there are no wizards or giant robots and there are absolutely no teenage musicians anywhere.
Because of that, it certainly has its own niche audience and rightly so. As far as action flicks go, “Gamer†is a sexy and charismatic beat-em-up that oozes with style. The story, in spite of its premise and interesting characters however, doesn’t completely live up to expectations. Nonetheless, it’s still a solid action romp that you’ll remember for a few reasons.
Despite the fact that his Southern-twang needs a bit of work, Dexter’s Michael C. Hall is as solid a villain as you can ask for and is perhaps the biggest reason to see “Gamer.†Good-looking, devilishly calm, collected and intelligent in this film, Hall would be an excellent Lex Luthor if the casters of 2011’s “Superman: Man of Steel†were looking for any possible suitors. The end scene of the film alone will convince you of his ability as a bad guy, but the way he meets his demise left something to be desired. Overall, it is the script that hurts Hall’s performance, as he’s done more than what was to be expected, especially considering that he isn’t on camera nearly as much as he should be.
The same thing goes for Ludicrous, who is surprisingly strong as the man stuck in the middle of the war between Hall, Gerard Butler and the world. Breaking the cycle when it comes to rappers turned actors, Ludicrous was hip enough to be taken seriously as a threat, but it may have been cooler to see his character fleshed out a bit more.
In the end, that’s the biggest problem with the movie, as Butler’s character, Kable, too has a story that comes together way too quickly. Tough as nails and ice cold, Butler is solid in the film and is human enough to make you want to see him reunited with his family. During the game, he’s cold and calculated, trying his hardest to achieve his survival. If there would have been more time dedicated to his back-story, it would have made the fight for his life a bit more engaging, but it doesn’t make the film a waste of your time, Rather, it’s just a missed opportunity that deters the film from a course that could have made it much better overall.
One character who is summed up perfectly however, is Kable’s wife, Angie, played by Amber Valletta. Forced to whore herself on a real-life version of “The Sims†[called “Society†in the film] to support herself and get enough money to get her child back, Valletta embodies the coolness of the film and through her performance you too will see what an entertaining, provocative and thought-provoking world directors and writers Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor have conjured up in “Gamer.â€
As a matter of fact, the scenes of both Kable and Angie in their respective game worlds is what makes “Gamer†shine. Seeing games like these controlled by real people is a fantasy for many, but one that turns out to have nasty consequences, triggering a plethora of social commentary in the process that may have to be addressed one day in the future. Gamers, of course, will love these scenes just because they mimic games like “The Sims†and “Call of Duty†brilliantly, while others will find them fast-paced and energetic.
This premise is what separates this film from the pack and what makes it as solid as it is, but one can’t help but wonder what it could have been had it stretched itself out a bit more. As it stands, “Gamer†will ultimately be remembered more for its style and atmosphere than the praise-worthy performance of Hall and grit of Butler, making it a game that turns out quite a bit differently in the end than you’d think when it starts.
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