Metro Pulse/Movie Guru/X2: X-Men United

Movie Guru Rating:

Enlightening (4 out of 5)

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on this review

X2 is an entertaining evolution in sequels

by Scott McNutt

For those who prefer their cinematic entertainment to have plots more involved than good guys versus bad guys, to have subtexts consisting of more than good triumphing over (or simply surviving against) evil, and direction that goes beyond "keep things moving fast and throw in lots of great special effects," X2: X-Men United may be somewhat lacking. Still, as an intended summer blockbuster, the movie's Prime Directive is "to entertain without significantly engaging the brain." X2 is a fun—albeit dark—adventure story; it has a basic, positive message about tolerance of those different than us; it's well made, cinematically. If such characteristics comprise your main qualifications for a good movie, then X2 is good.

For those who have been cryogenically frozen for the last 40 years, X2 is a sequel to 2000's X-Men, which was based on a comic book series created in the early '60s, about the exploits of a band of mutants whose genetic anomalies have given them superpowers. In this outing, after an apparent mutant attack on the president, a military research scientist, William Stryker (Brian Cox), is given the green light to round up mutants, starting with the kids at Charles Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters, which doubles as the secret base of operations for the grown-up X-Men.

As the audience learns that Stryker's intentions are far more malevolent than simply detaining mutants, the X-Men find themselves grappling with challenges both internal and external. Wolverine (Hugh Jackman), the amnesiac with the animal instincts and adamantium claws, has returned from a failed attempt to learn about his past. Carnal sparks immediately fly between Wolvie and telepath/telekinetic Jean Grey (Famke Janssen), despite her power-beam-eyeballed hubbie Cyclops (James Marsden) glowering in the background.

Professor Xavier (Patrick Stewart), meantime, is attempting to track the president's mutant attacker. Following up on Xavier's lead, Jean Grey and weatherwoman Storm (Halle Berry) fly to Boston to confront the would-be assassin, while Cyclops and Xavier set off to question their imprisoned arch-enemy, Magneto (Sir Ian McKellen), about his possible direction of the attack. Wolverine is left to babysit the school's juvenile charges, especially mopey and moody flame-thrower Pyro (Aaron Stanford) and the wanna-be couple of icemaker Bobby Drake (Shawn Ashmore) and life-force-sucker Rogue (Anna Paquin), whose uncontrollable power makes a compelling argument for the abstinence approach to safe sex.

Later that night, Stryker's shock-troops invade the school, and the fun begins. Along the way, new characters Nightcrawler (Alan Cumming) and Lady Deathstrike (Kelly Hu) are introduced, and old favorite Mystique (Rebecca Romijn-Stamos) returns.

To action junkies and fanboy-types, little more need be said of the main plot other than that it moves like a James Bond flick, only with about a dozen Bonds, none of whom needs any gadgets, and each of whom, seemingly, has a backstory or subplot.

The many sub-stories are, frankly, a distraction. Some, such as Bobby Drake's revelation of his powers to his family, both move the story forward and establish emotional connections among characters, while being equally resonant with the audience. Others, such as Xavier's prior involvement with Stryker and his son, could have been shed with no loss to the story. When the movie approaches its finale, it has too many ends to meet. In the last thirty minutes, crisis after crisis is faced and resolved (or deferred) as X2 races to the finish line.

In fact, if X2 has a major flaw, it is that it tries to do too much with too many characters in too little time, even though the movie clocks in at over two hours. It appears director Brian Singer wanted to weave a story of complex personalities set in complex situations. Though X2 can be confusing (especially to audiences unfamiliar with the characters), confusing does not equal complex. And because he has too many stories to tell, Singer takes shortcuts. Character explication often substitutes for character development. Activity masquerades as plot. Emotive dialogue passes for emotional involvement.

In Singer's defense, he is working with characters some of which carry 40 years of history, all of which have fiercely devoted followings who resent any tinkering, and none of which are as yet thoroughly realized. Walking that sort of tightrope, Singer mostly succeeds—probably better than ought to be expected—in making most of the characters engaging and most of the sub-stories meaningful.

And again, X2's supposed to be a fun summer blockbuster. On that scale, X2 wins the kewpie doll, surpassing its predecessor in thrills, suspense, and especially in special effects. Having been less than convinced by previous CGI efforts, I confess to being completely content with those in X2. Indeed, the point is that I never thought, "Oh, this is a CGI effect," during the movie. When weather mistress Storm yanks dozens of tornadoes out of the sky to thwart pursuing jets, I never gave it a second thought. Power blasts, teleportation tricks, deadly magnetically propelled iron orbs—all looked perfectly natural.

The story may not be as deep as Singer intends, nor are all the implications of the X-Men's lawless and lethal actions fully considered, but in the end, X2 does what it's supposed to do: Entertain.