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Chain Reaction

By LEONARD KLADY

A 20th Century Fox release of a Zanuck Co./Chicago Pacific Entertainment/Arne L. Schmidt production. Produced by Schmidt, Andrew Davis. Executive producers, Richard Zanuck, Erwin Stoff. Directed by Andrew Davis. Screenplay, J.F. Lawton, Michael Bortman, based on a story by Arne L. Schmidt, Rick Seaman, Josh Friedman.
 
Eddie Kasalivich - Keanu Reeves
Paul Shannon - Morgan Freeman
Dr. Lily Sinclair - Rachel Weisz
FBI Agent Leon Ford - Fred Ward
FBI Agent Doyle - Kevin Dunn Lyman
Earl Collier - Brain Cox
Maggie McDermott - Joanna Cassidy
Ed Rafferty - Chelcie Ross
Dr. Alistair Barkley - Nicholas Rudall
Dr. Lun Chen - Tzi Ma
Lucasz Screbneski - Krzysztof Pieczynski

 

It's another countdown to Armageddon as the pursuit of a safe, clean energy source goes haywire in "Chain Reaction." This slick sci-thriller trods familiar action ground without leaving a single fresh footprint in its wake. It may be high-gloss sound and fury, but significant it's not. Pic should speed to good, if unremarkable, box office returns. Ancillary and overseas cash look promising for this high-octane junk-food outing.

Eddie Kasalivich (Keanu Reeves) is part of a U. of Chicago research team attempting to harness water as an energy source. Just when they appear to have found an efficient process, the entire operation is sabotaged by a band of industrial mercenaries. The act of destruction is meant to look like an after-hours accident, but Eddie stumbles into the booby-trapped lab late at night, finds the corpse of its director and, although he can't stop the plant explosion, blabs about all he's seen to FBI investigators.

His dilemma, and that of coworker Dr. Lily Sinclair (Rachel Weisz), is that the unseen bad guys have a genius for making the scientists appear to be in cahoots with a renegade faction. The university project's benefactor, Paul Shannon (Morgan Freeman), wants Eddie and Lily to surrender to authorities, but they know better. The duo run for cover, playing a cat-and-mouse game with the law and the villains as they attempt to sort out the puzzle and thwart evil forces.

Chief among the picture's shortcomings is its steadfast insistence on keeping both the protagonists and the audience in the dark. Neither the purpose of the experiment nor the exact identity of the saboteurs is made clear. Suffice it to say that the forces of darkness are funded (but not sanctioned) by the American government. Paranoia is once again the contrivance that propels the action.

The story is relentlessly familiar. "Chain Reaction's" writers know the terrain but are loath to change more than the set pieces. The latter provide director Andrew Davis with the opportunity for some adroit fun on Chicago bridges, a frozen Wisconsin lake and a museum. The picture is an entertaining, though empty vessel.

Reeves is kept breathlessly running through most of the picture. And while there's no need for him to be more than the lucky amateur or to display much of Eddie's character, he turns in a solid, heroic performance. His running mate, Weisz, also comes across well in a largely thankless role.

Considerably more interesting are Brain Cox as a braggart corporate heavy and Fred Ward as an FBI agent from the "Colombo" school. But the acting plum goes to Freeman, in a carefully shaded role that keeps us guessing about his loyalty and decency. It's a remarkable turn in an otherwise pedestrain vehicle.

Davis once again demonstrates a visual dynamism and humor. But while the film is directed and crafted with considerable skill, he's yet to prove himself as a filmmaker who can elevate his material from what's on the page. "Chain Reaction" needed to be more than just a good, diverting romp in this highly competitive summer marketplace.

Camera (Astrolab color, Panavision widescreen), Frank Tidy; editors, Donald Brochu, Dov Hoenig, Arthur Schmidt; music, Jerry Goldsmith; production design, Maher Ahmad; art direction, David J. Bomba; set design, Richard Fernandez, David W. Krummel, Mindi Toback, Karen Fletcher Trujillo; set decoration, Gene Serdena; sound (Dolby SR), Robert R. Anderson Jr; visual effects supervisor, Nick Davis; associate producers, Ahmad, Carlos H. Sanchez, Teresa Tucker-Davies; assistant director, Matt Earl Beesley; casting, Amanda Mackey, Kathy Sandrich. Reviewed at 20th Century Fox studios, L.A., July 25, 1996. MPAA Rating: PG-13. Running time: 106 MIN.