Self/Less (7/10/2015)

Rated PG-13 for sequences of violence, some sexuality, and language.

Starring Ryan Reynolds, Ben Kingsley, Matthew Goode and Natalie Martinez

Directed by Tarsem Singh (Mirror Mirror)

A promising idea that never delivers.

In this provocative psychological science fiction thriller, an extremely wealthy man (Ben Kingsley) dying from cancer undergoes a radical medical procedure that transfers his consciousness into the body of a healthy young man (Ryan Reynolds). But all is not as it seems when he starts to uncover the mystery of the body’s origin and the organization that will kill to protect its cause.

What do you do if you have a complex subject matter, but you’re not quite sure how to handle it? You add flamethrowers to your story. Lots of flamethrowers…at least that’s what director Tarsem Singh’s did.

This film is all about Shedding – a new medical process where the rich and powerful can continue to live in a new body (not exactly an original idea). But when Ben Kingsley wakes up in Ryan Reynolds’ body we quickly see him experiencing “hallucinations” and it doesn’t take a brain surgeon to figure out the rest of the film.

Then right on cue is the montage of Damien enjoying his new found youth. But if you were going to spend that kind of money, do you want to be put into a 40 year old body? I’m just asking. Regardless of that dilemma, we watch him speed boating, waterskiing and endless casual encounters with a series of women. Then all of a sudden…there are flamethrowers. Seriously.

Reynolds is never really believable as a man in another man’s body. He can play the lead in any action film but there is nothing about his performance that made me think he was an older, billionaire businessman.

This film raises a lot of questions about life, the afterlife and our own mortality, but time and time again the filmmakers decided to insert an action sequence instead of diving into the depth of this subject matter.

Instead of a thought-provoking film, we get less than exciting action flick that really should be “skipped.”

SHOULD KIDS SEE IT?
There is one scene where young Damian is about to have sex with a woman. She undresses herself but covers her breasts and no nudity is shown. We also see Damian have sex with several young women. The shots only last seconds and no nudity is shown.

There are intense chase scenes and people are clearly being killed. There are shootings and people get burned.

There is one F-word.

CONVERSATION STARTER

1. What do you think of the idea of Shedding?


2. Why do you think the idea of getting a second life/chance is so appealing?

Read Hebrews 9:27

We die only once, and then we are judged.


3. What do you think this verse means?


4. How does knowing that we only have one life effect how we live?


5. What can you do to make this life count?