An interesting premise.  An interesting first half.  A mess of a second half.

I'm talking about The Box - a Cameron Diaz/James Marsden film.  Set in 1976, the Lewis's are a normal couple.  Sure, they have their financial worries, like any other normal couple, but they're really doing OK.  But their lives are turned upside down by the appearance of a mysterious box that lands on their doorstep, followed shortly by a stranger's (Frank Langella) visit.  The man tells them that they have 24 hours to make a decision.  Inside the box is a red button.  Push it, and he'll give them a million dollars.  Oh, and someone, somewhere in the world, someone they do not know, will die. 

That's the basic premise, right there.  The Lewis's now have to make a decision.  Much thought goes into the decision, and right up until the final decision is made, the movie was really quite entertaining.  I liked watching the couple go back and forth with their thoughts.  And even their attempts to figure out how the box works, or exactly who the mysterious man is. 

Then - the decision having been made - the rest of the movie takes a major turn, and becomes something quite different. 

I didn't really enjoy the second half the movie.  It almost seemed the like the writers couldn't figure out how to stretch Button, Button (a short story and Twighlight Zone episode) into a full two hours.  So they threw a bunch of wacky scenes into the movie just to fill the time.  Many of the scenes made very little sense, when they occurred.  Some of them made sense, later, once other parts of the story became clear.  But a few of them still have me scratching my head.  I can "invent" explanations for them that sort of make sense, but I have to add my own assumptions.   And I have to sort through all of the political and religious themes which are hinted, but not fully spelled out.  A second viewing would probably help clarify things, but to be honest, I'm just not interested enough to sit through it again.

The performances were OK - really nothing to write home about.  Cameron Diaz has a southern accent in every other scene.  That is to say, half the time she, apparently, forgets to use it.  Marsden is - well - Marsden.  I find him to be dull in pretty much everything he's in.  The 70's setting was fun to watch.  I got a kick out of the seeing the clothes, hair styles, and furnishings.  Especially the wall paper in the Lewis's home!  Those things brought me right back to my childhood!

But overall, I can't recommend this movie, despite its interesting premise, and entertaining first half.  The second half is just too messy, and brings it down way too far.  It's a shame, as I was really enjoying it, up until that point.

Recommended: No