Replicas

THE GIST: A neuro-scientist is working on a project to transfer badly maimed soldiers' consciousness to clones or androids. One night, his wife and three children are killed in a car accident and he is faced with the dilemma of losing them for good or trying to reanimate them into replicas.

Keanu Reeves's name will always be associated with the wonders of The Matrix universe, so it stands to reason that a sci-fi based project would benefit from casting the star.

Unfortunately, Replicas isn't really anywhere near as good as the original movie in that trilogy, even though it's not necessarily a bad movie either (and certainly rates higher than those sequels ...)

I believe the film suffers from trying to stretch the possibilities described beyond the level of acceptable disbelief.

Either way, Reeves, not known for being a consummate actor, does his best, flanked by Thomas Middleditch, Alice Eve, John Ortiz, Emjay Anthony and Emily Alyn Lind. The latter two a couple of very promising child actors.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Replicas doesn't really try to reinvent the wheel, nor does it pretend to be a classic. It's a sci-fi movie with some very dramatic moments and a troubling choice at its core. Not too bad.

Grade: 5