Genre: Thriller
Sub-categories: Chaos Theory, Suspense
Predictability: Somewhat Predictable
Look-at-these: No Nudity

Synopsis: A college bound Evan Treborn discovers that he possesses the power to alter events of his life that he doesn't even recall happening. He altruistically attempts to better the present and future by righting the wrongs of the past, only to discover that solving one problem creates many others. Life is a vicious cycle, isn't it?

Analysis: Every responsible time traveler knows that modifying one moment in history has a cascading effect that ripples through to infinity, often generating unanticipated consequences. This is the dogma behind the butterfly effect, the theory upon which this film is based. Far from it's first use in cinema, the concept has been the basis for numerous works. It was notably applied in Ray Bradbury's "A Sound of Thunder," a short story that follows several time travelers who discover that the fate of Earth hinges on the life of a single butterfly:

"It couldn't change things. Killing one butterfly couldn't be that important! Could it?" (1)

However, the formalized theory is often credited to Edward Lorenz who once wrote:

"One meteorologist remarked that if the theory were correct, one flap of a seagull's wings would be enough to alter the course of the weather forever."

Lorenz only later switched from the seagull to the less dastardly butterfly (2). After all, how many butterflies have stolen your peanut butter and jelly sandwich while you're trying to catch some sun at the beach? My point is that whatever you want to call it, the butterfly effect or the first law of time travel or the whatever chaos theory, this is far from an original idea. In fact, J Mackye Gruber and Eric Bess weren't the first to use this title. Fernando Colomo's El efecto mariposa (The Butterfly Effect) preceded Bress' version by nearly a decade. The concept is the same, but Colomo examines the significance of the entropic nature of the universe through a story that is more grounded, if not completely believable. The directors' appearance of taking their work seriously is belied by the ridiculous nature of a story centered around a boy with a super power. It's too bad, because this really is a good film.

I never dreamed that I'd be giving so much consideration to a film led by heartthrob cutie Ashton Kutcher, star of such timeless rubbish as Punk'd and Dude, Where's My Car? Kutcher has been widely praised for championing such a serious role as Evan Treborn; however, his performance is only dazzling compared to expectations. Indeed, his litany against type-casts is a good one. I feel that he carries the role with a genuine appreciation for it's heft, but I'm not going to go overboard with the accolades. One might get the impression from the film's trailer that Kutcher is pulling a one-man show, but his co-stars deserve an even greater nod. It's his mother (Melora Walters) and love-interest Kayley (Amy Smart) who are forced to adapt most dramatically to the whims of the proverbial butterfly. With each change of the past, it is the supporting cast and not Kutcher that find themselves grasping at an entirely new role. Kudos go out to these lovely ladies for making it a seamless transition.

I'm most impressed by the emotional power of The Butterfly Effect. For once, Kutcher manages to conjure more than just flatulence. He inspires a connection with the audience that allows you to experience the emotions of Evan Treborn. I felt it whether it was happiness, disappointment or unbridled rage. It's this connection that makes The Butterfly Effect an effective drama. It's an emotional rollercoaster that juxtaposes intense highs with extreme lows. I've experienced more compelling stories to be sure, but I'll give credit where credit is due. The film is a successful drama, even if it's only a mediocre thriller.

The Buttefly Effect drags at times, but Bress and Gruber maintain a nice, brisk pace throughout much of the film with an acceptable degree of suspense. The butterfly effect predicts that one change will have unintended consequences. It's inherent to the unpredictable nature of said consequences that some will be good and some will be bad. Of course, good and bad are subjective descriptors. The directors could have done a better job exploring the relativity of the goodness or the badness of each cause, although their attempts are not without merit. They hammer down that the best is not necessarily equivalent to good in an imperfect world. The nature of the ending -- but not the specifics -- was entirely foreseeable. This wouldn't be such a letdown if Bress and Gruber had not tried so hard to make it seem so remarkable. The potency of the message is scuttled by their attempts to be stylish.

The ultimate equalizer is the simple fact that better works on the subject already exist. Robert Zemeckis successfully explored the concept in Back to the Future, without the need to seem so intensely erudite about it. Bress and Gruber title their film after a scientific theory and open with a quote from Lorenz, thus leaving no doubt that they consider The Butterfly Effect to be an academic work of some stature. Imagine if Steinbeck had called his book The Allegory instead of The Pearl. Or, consider what would have happened if he had opened the novel by saying:

Look at my allegory! Look at my beautiful allegory! Isn't my allegory pretty?

Surely he would have been dismissed as a egotist. Every effort would have been made to punish his condescension by inventing reasons to despise his work, much as I'm admittedly doing to Bress and Gruber right now. I recognize that there are two extreme types of academics. One will be arrogant, constantly reminding you of how great his/her work is to behold. The other will remain humble, allowing the depth of the work to reveal itself. The directors' choice of titles and opening quotes rubbed me the wrong way, leading me to conclude that they are more of the former than the latter. Zemeckis accomplished just as much without appearing arrogant, a trait for which I have no stomach. The creator should never find it necessary to interpret his own work; the value of the contribution should speak for itself. It's condescending to the audience to place such gaudy clues. I'm not a child; I can mash my own peas. If someone wants to find the symbolism, then they will find it. If someone wants to enjoy the superficial aspects of the film, then let them.

Final Comments: The Butterfly Effect was a good film. It's a well-acted thriller that managed to throw in a few curveballs. I found both the story and the characters engaging, but I was uncomfortable sharing my viewing space with the filmmakers' enormous egos.

References:

(1) "A Sound of Thunder" by Ray Bradbury

(2) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butterfly_effect

Let's See You Review This!

Thanks go out to Nedipooh for challenging me to review The Butterfly Effect. It was a good choice, indeed. There was obviously a lot going on that I had to get off of my chest! If you're interested in reading the other challenges, then please check out the other participants on Lynus' Profile.

Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Good for a Rainy Day
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older