What does it mean when a movie is simply entertaining?
It's a phrase thrown around frequently, but it can embody completely different meanings. Sometimes it refers to a legitimately good movie and sometimes it's tossed atop mediocre films that are only good for a few cheap thrills. Awake, directed by Joby Harold, falls into the latter category. The film has two freakishly attractive actors (Jessica Alba and Hayden Christensen), one notoriously good actor (Terrance Howard) and a plot line that has potential. Unfortunately, there is something lacking in the delivery.
Like every "entertaining" movie, the main character Clay (Christensen) is every girls' dream man. He's a young successful businessman who uses his money for good and whose only real problem is a nagging heart disease. Between owning half of New York City and taking care of his mother, Clay finds the time to fall in love with the tan and perfect Sam Lockwood (Alba). He soon marries her on a whim without the approval of his mother. But just as they are about to enter into honeymoon bliss, Clay gets the call that a heart is finally available for his much needed transplant. This is where Howard comes in. Howard plays a doctor with a secret agenda, which becomes clear after Clay is improperly put under anesthesia. He is paralyzed but can still understand everything people are saying around him. Most of the film focuses on this state of lucid paralysis where he is incapable of saving himself but aware of everything happening around him.
When you break the film down, it seems like it should be a good movie. There are two "hot" actors, one Oscar-worthy actor and a plot with an interesting twist. So what makes this film just entertaining? It might have something to do with the dialogue.
The first 30 minutes of the film consist of a series of ridiculous conversations. The characters talk to each other in a way that's painfully unrealistic. This is especially clear between Christensen and Alba. They have absolutely no chemistry, which makes their stiff conversations even more awkward. The relationship Clay has with his mother is also a little unnatural and intimate in a slightly creepy way.
Awake is also surprisingly graphic. I would argue this is a good thing. You see Clay's heart in his chest, you see doctors sewing up his flesh and the film even shows Clay spit up fluid. This all helps the audience feel Clay's pain. It's uncomfortable, even nauseating at times, but it's a perfect way to understand how miserable this "anesthetic awareness" would be.
Terrance Howard does a solid acting job and even saves the film from self-destruction in terms of the absurd plot twist. The plot twist is ridiculous in a could-never-happen type of way, but the trail of clues that lead toward it are at least clever. Alba is also surprisingly convincing when the twist finally takes effect, but her real-life cockiness shining through is bothersome.
All in all, the film has the ingredients of an entertaining movie. The plot is good enough to keep you engaged, the actors are decent enough to keep you watching and the lead is likeable enough. It's a popcorn movie worthy enough to see with your friends. Awake is nothing to worry about missing, but fine if you have 10 bucks and don't know what to do with it.
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