Review: X-Files: I want to believe

Truly, I really wanted more for David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson.

Both are wonderful actors that, at times, seemed overwhelmed by their legendary cult status as the faces of Mulder and Scully, FBI agents who fight supernatural and alien forces.

I wanted them to ascend beyond their typecasting (which they’ve tried wriggling out of to small degrees of success, though I really didn’t expect to see that much of Duchovny in Californiacation).

But I’m not against them returning as Mulder and Scully, as long as, by golly,  they do it with a bang, so as to prove to the whole wide world and those who are not X-Files fans, that they’re more than capable actors.

Sadly, that’s not to be. Eventhough I really enjoyed Duchovny and Anderson’s return to form (how can we not go awww, when we realise how their relationship has deepened over the days when they were in the bureau?)

But the story? It’s got to be the lamest, weakest excuse of a story for a cinema movie ever. Spoilers ahead!

I mean, what the hell kind of excuse is this to bring the duo out of hiding? Apparently the FBI believe they’re out of their league when a defrocked psychic priest comes to them with valuable information about a missing agent. Aiyoh, the FBI standards really jatuhlah…. Secondly, why keep Scully and Mulder apart for most of the movie?

Anyway, here is the review I wrote recently about the movie:

[Grade: D]

Despite a title that will tempt writers to sharpen their pun-making skills, I wanted to believe (sorry, couldn’t resist) that the second X-Files feature film would resurrect the franchise in some way.

Alas, it was not to be: although, to my relief, it steered away from painfully convoluted conspiracies that alienated some viewers in The X-Files: Fight the Future. The story this time round, however, is far too unremarkable (for The X-Files, at least).

A few women are kidnapped in wintry West Virginia and Mulder and Scully are called to help in the investigations as it involves a psychic defrocked priest. Despite these promising ingredients, the story is severely lacking in suspense because it is often unnecessarily sidelined by Scully’s angst over a patient (which is supposed to mirror the faith vs reason theme of the movie). It distracted rather than enhanced the plot.

Yet, it was sure nice to see Mulder and Scully again, even if Scully is now a frustrated doctor and Mulder’s a hermit who covers his walls with newspaper clippings of strange cases.

Hardcore fans will appreciate the exploration of the duo’s relationship which has matured significantly since the end of the series. Unfortunately, many will probably be bored stiff by the movie’s “talky” nature and meandering plot. Even fans will be disappointed by the ordinary nature of the mystery. Couldn’t they at least toss in the Flukeman’s twin?

What’s worse is that they keep Scully and Mulder apart for most of the movie! The saying “divided they fall” comes to mind …

(Published in The Star: Online link: http://star-ecentral.com/movies/grade/details.asp?pid=1283)