Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of action violence, drug material, some sexual content and language.
Directed by John Stockwell (Blue Crush, Crazy/Beautiful)
Starring Paul Walker, Jessica Alba and Scott Caan
I haven’t seen this much eye candy since a rap video!
This movie is for the people that were bummed when Jessica Alba kept turning invisible in The Fantastic Four. Jessica never turns invisible in this film… she just swims around in her tiny little swimsuit the entire movie. You’ll actually get tired of hearing guys in the theatre grunt out locker-room comments.
Just in case you want to hear Jessica Alba's “2 cents” on this, she shared them in a recent Rolling Stone interview. “It’s not always so great to be objectified, but I don’t feel I have much of a choice right now. I’m young in my career. I know I have to strike when the iron is hot.” (June 30-July 14, 2005, p. 77.)
And aside from some great diving cinematography and audiences being able to gawk at Jessica Alba or pretty boy Paul Walker (Fast and the Furious) … the film doesn’t offer much.
The story is about a group of divers that find themselves in deep trouble with a drug lord after they come upon the illicit cargo of a sunken airplane. Really, the only trouble this film presents is what it’s going to have with Columbia Pictures when the film goes “into the red.”
THE GOOD:
Jared (Walker) and Sam (Alba) are very likable characters. They are moral, they’re committed to what they love and they stand by their convictions. If only we could have got to know them a little better (on the inside that is- we know every other part of them pretty well by the end of the film!)
Divers will enjoy the film just because of the scenery. The same John Stockwell who delivered incredible surfing shots in Blue Crush (the only good thing about that film) brings us fantastic diving footage in Into the Blue. Although, you might get a good idea of what “scenery” Stockwell really likes to shoot by the end of the film.
THE BAD:
Bryce (Scott Caan) is irksome. Even Scott Caan’s normal humor, charm and creative adlibs (ie: Oceans 11) could not save you from becoming completely irritated by the stupid decisions this guy makes throughout the film. His new girlfriend only catalysts the situation.
Cliché and predictable.
SHOULD KIDS SEE IT?
Nope. Have them skip this one. Language, violence, and more skin than a J-Lo dress.
Side Note:
As said above, we recommend you skip this film. But on the occasion that your teen actually has already seen it, you may want to dialogue about the film with them. These questions below may be a help to you.
Conversation Starter
Three Simple Questions (with Answers You May Be Looking for):
- What are some of the messages or themes you observed in this movie?
- How do you suppose we—as serious Christ-followers—should react to this movie?
- How can we move from healthy, Bible-based opinions about this movie to actually living out those opinions?
