Unbreakable

Unbreakable was the biggest movie disappointment I have experienced in some time. With all the preview hype, I was expecting a suspenseful mystery. Instead, I got a poorly developed story with mediocre acting and an anticlimactic ending. Bruce Willis, what were you thinking?

Until now I have avoided writing opinions on movies or books, and I generally do not read the reviews of others, until after I have seen the movie or read the book myself. This is because many of the opinions do reveal a great deal about the plot and character development. I prefer to experience the story for myself, rather than to read someone else’s interpretations or synopsis. Unbreakable, however, was such a disappointment, that I feel compelled to write and to recommend that others pass on seeing this movie. If you do choose to watch this movie, my opinion will not delve into the details of the plot, and will attempt to reveal only aspects of the story that one could surmise from the previews.

The story opens with our hero, David Dunne, surviving a tragic train derailment. David is, in fact, the sole survivor of this horrible accident. Enter, Elijah, owner of a comic strip art store, who in intrigued by David’s apparent ability to remain “unbroken” in the aftermath of tragedy. Elijah suffers from a rare genetic disorder, leaving him prone to broken bones and other bodily injuries. Elijah, who suffers terribly both physically and emotionally, has a need to understand why David is so resilient to bodily harm.

The story continues through many disjointed and poorly acted scenes to a conclusion that leaves one asking, “Is that it?” While the story is somewhat creative, it is developed in such a way as to minimize any real interest. Scenes are disjointed, jumping between current action and flashbacks. This style was probably meant to build suspense and interest, however, instead, it kept me from feeling involved with the characters.

The characters all appear rather flat, similar to those in Elijah’s comic books. I never felt a connection to any of the characters’ emotional turmoil or motivating needs. In fact, there was only one scene in the entire film in which the characters appeared three dimensional and interesting. This was a tense, and somewhat amusing scene taking place in the Dunnes’ kitchen, and involving Dunne, his wife and their young son.

The previews and hype for this movie try to liken it to The Sixth Sense, a film that I did enjoy, and whose surprise ending did exactly what it was intended to do. I actually saw an interview with Bruce Willis explaining how the suspense and surprise twisting plot in Unbreakable makes The Sixth Sense seem like child’s play. In my opinion the similarity between these two movies ends after Bruce Willis’ name scrolled through the opening credits.

If you’re a “die-hard” Bruce Willis fan, save your money and wait for the movie to be released on video. If not, I suggest that you pass on Unbreakable altogether. There are surely better ways to spend your time and money!