"SIXTH DAY, THE" *** 1/2 out of ***** Reviewed by R. L. Strong
CAST: ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER, MICHAEL RAPAPORT, TONY GOLDWYN, MICHAEL ROOKER, SARAH WYNTER AND ROBERT DUVALL MUSIC BY TREVOR RABIN PHOTOGRAPHY PIERRE MIGNOT WRITTEN BY CORMAC WIBBERLEY AND MARIANNE WIBBERLEY DIRECTED BY ROGER SPOTISWOODE
2000 Rated PG-13 For Violence, Mild language, and Mild Sexuality. 124 minutes. Spherical Panavision (2.35:1)
Now that the topic of cloning is back in the news again, it was inevitable that some enterprising producer would pick up on the idea. >From such low budget productions as "Creation of the Humanoids" (1964) to 1976's "The Clonus Horror" as been an offshoot of sci-fi. While these previous films held a certain novelty to them, they were far from classic films. With Arnold Schwarzenegger's latest film, we have what is one more film made on the subject, but a film with one big difference.
It is the near future. Science and technology have taken major leaps, as have politics (The president of the USA is a woman, though we never see her). When previous experimentation with human cloning failed, Congress passed the "6th Day" law (based on the Bible's depiction of creation), banning all human cloning. Our story opens on an XFL football game (a very funny premise now in hindsight), where a star quarterback is seemingly killed during the game, only to return a week later. We are then introduced to Adam Gibson (Schwarzenegger), playfully examining his face for wrinkles as he anticipates his surprise birthday party. Adam has a loving family and life is just perfect until the untimely passing of the family pet dog. Urged by his wife, Natalie (Wendy Crewson); Adam agrees to investigate a pet cloning center (Re-Pet, a ridiculously believable a corporate name as can be), to save his Daughter, Clara (Taylor Anne Reid) from the heartbreak.
Adam runs an air transport company that takes passengers to remote vacation spots. His latest client is multi-billionaire Michael Drucker (Tony Goldwyn). Forced to take a blood and eye test for drug use (seemingly a standard operation in the future), Adam and his partner Hank (Michael Rapaport) get the job. Hank convinces Adam to allow him to take the job, giving Adam time to check out "Re-Pet". As Hank, posing as Adam lands his harrier jet in mountains with Drucker on board, they are attacked and killed by a lone gunman that been part of an earlier charter. Adam wakes up in a cap outside of the mall. He clears his head and steps into the 'Re-Pet' store. Two protesters stand outside urging Adam not to clone his pet as it is "against the will of God". Adam replies, "Than God shouldn't have killed my dog!" Things seem slightly out of kilter. Adam seems to have had a previous conversation with the Re-pet salesman. Leaving the mall, he returns home only to find that the family dog is very much alive, and that he has a doppelganger. Adam is immediately approached by two shadowy figures claiming to be from the Government. They tell him that there has been a 6th day violation; a human being has been cloned. When Adam resists, the agents attempt to kill him. Adam escapes and the chase is on, as Adam searches for the truth and who is responsible. "The 6th Day" is just plane fun. Not as gruesome as previous sci-fi thrillers the action star has participated in, but still action packed. There is a good amount of suspense in the film, even though the big reveal is telegraphed way in advance. There is a good amount of social satire in the film (a Schwarzenegger trademark, he has officially become his own genre, much like Jackie Chan), and the politics in the film are implicitly neutral. The script by Cormac and Marianne Wibberley is witty, action packed and very clever. The film is a little slow paced at times in detailing its mis-en-scene. But like Arnold's previous attempts at sci-fi action (Total Recall, Terminator, T2), this is part of the films charm. The amount of detail here makes the film seem plausible. And this is what makes these films exciting. Let's face it; if Arnold were only going after one guy (as in "Commando"), it just wouldn't work. Arnold is such a big presence that to not have the whole world after him just makes it too easy. This coming after the disastrous "End of Days", this film can be seen as a comeback. Roger Spottiswoode handles the film ably, having lots of fun with the effects and the setting. His action scenes are nothing out of the ordinary, but his set-ups and direction of his cast is (as always) top notch. The transitions between scenes are a clever gambit, using imagery as seen from an omnipotent force looking down on the action, a nice little touch that subliminally asks if clones have a soul. The cast is well chosen and performs well across the board. "The 6th Day" is not as good as "Total Recall" (which it resembles). It's just not that over the top. It's also a little long at 124 minutes, but not so much as to make the seats uncomfortable. "The 6th Day" is a fun and enjoyable programmer with enough heart and satire to make it an enjoyable. A fine bit of escapism and a worthwhile return to the screen by Schwarzenegger.
All text and html code Copyright (c) 2005 Ronald. L. Strong. Nothing in this article may be reproduced or altered in any way without the expressed written permission of the author.
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