Review

Review Date: 28-May-06
Spoiler Rating: Medium
Juju Judgment: Just OK

X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)

When Bryan Singer left the third X-Men movie for "Superman Returns," a lot of ink was spilt about the choice of Brett Ratner as the new director, and most of it was skeptical. Could the guy behind "Rush Hour" and music videos for Mariah Carey do justice to one of the most successful superhero franchises of all time? Yet it occurred to me while watching Ratner's effort that the director isn't the one who makes or breaks these movies. The challenge of adapting this serial comic book has always been how to write scripts that juggle multiple characters (and stars' need for exposure) with solid escapist entertainment. The final installment, like the first, doesn't quite reach this goal.

Writers Zak Penn and Simon Kinberg weren't kidding about the title, though, since "The Last Stand" rubs out several major characters and seems determined to preclude further sequels. (Well, except for that bit after the credits roll.) There isn't one central story but rather two main threads interwoven with numerous digressions. The issue for mutant patriarchs Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart) and Magneto (Ian McKellen) to disagree about this time is a "cure" for mutant genes which spells a welcome chance for normalcy or a diabolical stab at genocide, depending on how you look at it. The good folks in Xavier's camp, led by Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) and Storm (Halle Berry), want to address the cure with deliberation, while the angry mob under Magneto prepares to wage war against the pharmaceutical company that produces it and the U. S. government that supports it. Most of the secondary stories spring from this one, including the ongoing romance between Ice Man (Shawn Ashmore) and Rogue (Anna Paquin); the introduction of a mutant advisor to the White House (Kelsey Grammer); and the absurdly superfluous struggle between the pharmaceutical CEO and his mutant son (Ben Foster).

The rest of the plot involves the resurrection of Jean Grey (Famke Janssen) as foretold at the end of the last chapter. Given the proper treatment, this might have sufficed for a better movie. As is, it plays like a feeble imitation of the season 6 finale of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," only poor Jean appears to be an unredeemable nutcase unlike the tortured and sympathetic Dark Willow. Here's a woman who has the power of a god — shouldn't she do something cool beyond a couple of murders? With the ability to do anything, I would rip Wolverine's clothes off too, but other than that she stands around looking hungry. Schizophrenia isn't the most exciting subject for a summer action flick.

On the plus side, Ratner delivers a few decent fight scenes and melodramatic moments punctuated by the appropriate crescendos. He flaunts the genetically perfect Jackman and Berry, as well as other comely actors in leather or body paint, and he doesn't rely on the split-second, MTV-style editing that sometimes infects the genre. In short, he does what he can with what he was given, but "X-Men: The Last Stand" is too scattered to allow for greatness. Or even Memorial-Day-weekend popcorn goodness.

Copyright © 2006 The Jujube (M. I. Kim). All rights reserved.