Review: Total Recall

Release date: 29 August 2012
Certificate: 15
Director: Len Wiseman
Starring: Colin Farrell, Kate Beckinsale, Jessica Biel

What's the story?
Factory worker Douglas Quaid suspects he is a spy after visiting Rekall - a company that implants fake memories of a life clients would like to have led. Quaid's visit to Rekall goes wrong and he finds himself on the run from an unlikely enemy.

What did we think?
Colin, Kate and Jessica give good performances. But there are only so many long and drawn out action sequences that can happen before we start losing interest. In amongst the pretty futuristic scenery and CGI, it manages to lose both the humour of the Verhoeven original and the strong theme of lost identity in the Philip K Dick story.

In the remake, Colin and co use the latest film-making technology to create a thrilling cinematic experience, but we missed the brutish charisma of Arnie and the latest in movie-making technology is no substitute for the no-holds-barred excess of Paul Verhoeven's 1990 adaptation.

Casting Kate Beckinsale in the role of Hauser's 'wife' Lori is understandable. Her involvement is mainly fighting, shooting and looking good, all of which she excels in. Jessica Biel, who plays Hauser's other love interest Melina, gives a convincing performance as the no-nonsense freedom fighter originally played by Rachel Ticotin.

Watching the Total Recall trio (Colin, Kate and Jessica) run through gravity fields shooting each other and jumping from lift-to-lift with a certain amount of poise and grace is undeniably captivating but it's not enough to carry the rest of the movie.

Total Recall is too safe, breaking no new ground and resolutely sustaining it's 'ok' status. It just isn't different enough from Arnie's version. The best of it is the idea on which it is sold. There's really nothing new, except flashy camera work and CG, to see here.

Verdict: Troubled remake fails to enhance the story despite solid performances.