FINAL DESTINATION 5 (R)
Starring Nicholas D'Agosto, Emma Bell, Tony Todd, and Tom Crui...er...I mean Miles Fisher
Wow! This was a surprise. Final Destination 5 is a lot of fun! It doesn't really take the franchise in a new direction (in that regard, its sort of a throwback to the horror franchises of the 80's--think Friday the 13th) but this is the best chapter since the second and much of the credit should go to James Cameron protege Steven Quale for his high energy direction (and effective use of 3-D). The first thirty minutes of this picture (which features a terrifying bridge collapse and a mishap at a gymnast facility that I wont soon forget) is extremely well...executed. In Final Destination 5, a twenty something with aspirations of becoming a professional chef foresees a horrific tragedy, and because of his timely premonition, he's able to divert disaster. Since he and his friends outwit death, the reaper spends the rest of the picture trying to dispatch these individuals in a myriad of grisly ways. I suppose Final Destination is a sick form of entertainment. The franchise's primary selling point is the violent death of innocent people, but I'll be damned if this stuff isn't entertaining. Final Destination 5 lulls a bit in the mid section and the comedy is hit and miss (P.J. Byrne's Isaac is an annoyingly unfunny character). Furthermore, Miles Fisher's relentless attempt at impersonating a young Tom Cruise (whether or not this was intentional is beyond me) becomes a big time distraction. Still, this is a fun movie (complete with creative kills) and in particular, I loved the clever ending--a special bit of Final Destination goodness that will warm the hearts of FD fans everywhere. Boy the lowest score in the lot and a slogger of a 3D, sequel to boot. I suppose you'll all be want'n a pint of what I'm havin',
Grade: B