Replicas

Have you heard about the new SciFi movie starring  Keanu Reeves?  Me neither, but I went ahead and saw “Replicas” anyway.  Keanu Reeves plays a computer genetics specialist/biologist who has been developing a procedure to capture the electronics of the  human brain on computer media that would allow it to be implanted into a robotic body.  The ultimate clone, it would retain all the person’s thoughts, knowlege and memories. If it works, he could even alter what is saved. But, his system hasn’t been working, the transplanted minds go crazy and the robots have to be shut down.  But he has an inspiration about what is causing it not to work, and just in time!  He and his family are going on vacation and his wife, son and two daughters are killed in a car accident.  Not surprisingly, he clones them and coerces his assistant into ‘borrowing’ the tools and equipment, setting them up in his basement (!) and cloning the bodies before re-inserting their personalities back in them.  Unfortunately, there are only three cloning devices, so he randomly decides he won’t bring his youngest back.  And of course, it doesn’t take long for cracks to appear and things to go horribly off kilter.  It’s all part of the weak science, plot holes and sketchy plotting in general that plague this movie.  Keanu is completely unconvincing as a mastermind biologist improvising his way into one increasingly dubious ajdustment after another, nor does he inspire sympathy or concern with his typical emotionless, dead pan delivery.  You could drive a truck through the plot holes, inconsistancies and just plain poorly designed and written action and dialogue.  His assistant was more lively, yet he and the attractive but underutilized Alice Eve do not shine. I did find some entertainment value in trying to determine which lie he creates to cover up his nefarious doings was  the most ludicrious, but that couldn’t sustain me forever.  If ever a movie was ripe for lampooning on Mystery Science Threatre 3000, this is it.  If you like Keanu Reeves, I would suggest you rewatch “The Matrix” or even “Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure.”  The bottom line is:  Don’t go see this movie!  That is all!