Barring my extraordinarily low expectations and my reservations about the film's premise in general, Len Wiseman's Total Recall was surprisingly decent as it sticks to its guns to create exactly what fans should expect: a mindless, futuristic popcorn film that focuses on its action sequences and girls-kicking-ass-in-skinny-pants montage.
Dubbed a remake of the popular 1990 film starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Len Wiseman's Total Recall shares little more than its title with the predecessor. For me, that is a good thing as the story appears recharged for a more mainstream audience, though I am still a bit shocked with its PG-13 rating.
The film's premise is simple enough. Douglas Quaid, a high ranking factory worker, is haunted by a single nightmare involving an unknown woman. When he ventures into a memory making facility, his lost espionage past looks to finally be catching up with him... or is it? The next hour and a half are filled with fast-paced action as Douglas must come to terms with who he really is and ultimately decide on which side of the global war he is fighting on.
While the premise is quite basic and painfully generic, the film knows what it has to offer and spends much of its time delivering as Farrell and company embark on a non-stop action sequences that involves a fluid blend of hand-to-hand combat and gun slinging. Wiseman doesn't waste much time on the story or even his characters, instead focusing in on the special effects, giving his audience something of magnitude to watch.
And if you aren't interested in all the fighting, you should find plenty to entertain your mind with as Kate Beckinsale and Jessica Biel lend their killer bodies to some intense scenes, proving once again that hot females kicking ass is, well... hot.
The film could have ended at least three times before it finally does, and the final scene doesn't offer us anything unexpected. But for a big budget summer blockbuster meant for a youthful audience, Total Recall features the right recipe for success.
