Eric D. Snider
The X-Files: I Want to Believe
Movie Review
"The X-Files: I Want to Believe"
Review by Eric D. Snider
Grade: C+
Rating: PG-13
Released: Friday, July 25, 2008
Directed by:
Cast:
Like many popular TV shows, "The X-Files" stayed on the air a few years longer than it should have, finally stopping in 2002 even though most of its viewers (and one of its cast members) had long since given up on it. But with the new "X-Files" film, subtitled "I Want to Believe," Chris Carter and company have made the opposite mistake: They waited too long to come back.
Surely all but the most passionate ardor for the iconic paranormal series has cooled by now, leaving only a few particularly devoted X-Philes eager to see Mulder and Scully resume their work of holding cryptic conversations while shining flashlights at things. I loved "The X-Files" and watched the series right up to the end, but while it's nice to see my old pals again, "I Want to Believe" is mediocre both as an "X-Files" movie and as a standalone mystery thriller.
Carter, the show's creator, who directed the film and co-wrote the screenplay with series veteran Frank Spotnitz, wisely chose not to explore the show's complicated mythology in the film -- a concession to the fact that a movie aimed only at devoted "X-Files" fans would, at this late date, make very little money. Instead, "I Want to Believe" is what we used to call a "monster of the week" story, an unconnected tale about a missing FBI agent and some nefarious bad guys that could, in theory, be enjoyed and understood even by "X-Files" novices.
Unfortunately, those novices are probably going to say, "Really? That's it? What was all the fuss about?" Mulder (David Duchovny) and Scully (Gillian Anderson), now living as a paranoid hermit and a doctor, respectively, are called in to help when an FBI agent goes missing and a defrocked priest (Billy Connolly) claims to have had psychic visions relating to the case. FBI Agent Whitney (Amanda Peet) admires Mulder's work on the X-Files cases and wants his advice on this possible fraud, while her partner (Alvin "Xzibit" Joiner) is already skeptical and insists they're wasting valuable time listening to the priest.
What follows is an uninspired reworking of the series' running themes: faith, religion, personal demons, and obsession. It feels exactly like a two-part TV episode, to the extent that you can even tell where the commercials would go. (The story generally follows Mulder and Scully's investigation; when we cut to a scene of the bad guys doing bad things, it's to lead up to something horrible, at which point we break for a word from our sponsors.) Nothing about it is so large or cinematic that it had to be told on the big screen -- in fact, several actual episodes of "The X-Files" felt bigger than this.
There are quite a few parallels to "Beyond the Sea," a Season 1 episode that was, to my mind, one of the best of the series: scary, dark, and thoughtful, all at once. Like the film, that episode had an alleged psychic offering clues about an abduction, with Mulder and Scully at different places on the credulity spectrum. Mulder gets hurt and Scully yells at the psychic, not wanting to believe him but believing anyway. The difference is that "Beyond the Sea" is brilliant, while this film is mediocre.
I wouldn't call it "bad," though. Duchovny and Anderson slide easily back into their roles as believer and skeptic, and their chemistry is still strong, a reminder of what a great TV duo they were. The direction and editing are solid, too, particularly during the suspenseful scenes. Nothing about the film feels sloppy or rushed.
But if they were going to have a reunion six years after the series ended and 10 years after the last theatrical film, shouldn't they have come up with a better occasion than this weak-sauce story? There are no shocking revelations or bizarre twists, and most of what we eventually learn about the FBI agent's disappearance is telegraphed early on. As a TV episode, it would be unmemorable but OK. As a theatrical feature requiring paid admission and a two-hour time commitment, uh, not so much.
Grade: C+
Rated PG-13, a little mild profanity, some violent images
1 hr., 42 min.
Copyright © Eric D. Snider.
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This item has 18 comments
July 25, 2008 at 5:03 am
Oh Snide One. Back in the days of Napster I downloaded the Scully Song and didn't even realize it was your work until years after the fact. I know exactly how much you love the X Files. Also, the fact that you mentioned Beyond the Sea, which is my favorite and obviously the best episode of the entire series, shows that you know what you're talking about.
Therefore, I'm seriously disappointed that you didn't love this movie. Also, I'm glad I'm not out waiting for a midnight showing right now.
I think I'll go read a book.
July 25, 2008 at 2:04 pm
...even though most of its viewers (and one of its cast members) had long since given up on it.
If you were referring to the leads, then both Duchovny and Anderson left the show, being replaced by Robert Patrick and Annabeth Gish, respectively. Actually, Gish may have joined before Anderson's departure; my memory of the last two seasons is a bit fuzzy.
July 25, 2008 at 3:17 pm
Anderson never left the show and Duchovny technically never missed a season. He appeared in only a handful of episodes in the 2nd to last season. He was absent for all but the series finale of the final season. Patrick and Gish carried a lot of the load for that season with Cary "as you wish" Elwes playing a recurring role.
July 25, 2008 at 4:39 pm
If you were referring to the leads, then both Duchovny and Anderson left the show, being replaced by Robert Patrick and Annabeth Gish, respectively. Actually, Gish may have joined before Anderson's departure; my memory of the last two seasons is a bit fuzzy.
Dude, Anderson never left the show, and Gish was never meant to replace her either.
July 25, 2008 at 5:36 pm
C+? What? Did you run out of Ds & Fs?
[SPOILERS]
It wasn't because of the wierdness of a gay "Frankenstein" trying to find a replacement female body (huh?) for his decapitated gay lover's head, was it?
Because that's what gay men really want - you know, a female body attached to a man's head?
Hmmm. Wonder if anyone will take offense at that? Not Eric D. Snyder, apparently.
July 25, 2008 at 5:41 pm
I dunno. Someone should contact Eric D. Snyder and ask him.
July 25, 2008 at 5:54 pm
That was weak, Eric. Open that bag of Fs back up.
More spoiler:
Alternatively, I loved how Scully solves terminal brain disease by 'googling "stem cell research *sheesh*. Why didn't other doctors think of that?
I want my hour-and-a-half back, please.
July 25, 2008 at 11:10 pm
*checks IMDB*
Okay, so "fuzzy" was a slight understatement. "Blank," let's say.
July 26, 2008 at 2:37 pm
I was pleasantly surprised that the show was as good as it was, since the first one was such a disappointment! I especially liked the mention of William, since the ads had hinted that there would be no mention of Mulder and Scully's 'love child'. I wish there had been more love scenes between our couple since we have been so deprived in the TV years. I was especially curious about the constant mention of "DON'T GIVE UP"---could this be a hint of another movie coming up----I hope so. I hated David's bearded look and 'ditto' for the goatee he is sporting now. I guess this new look is for his new TV series which I have no wish to view--he will always be Mulder to be, and Anderson will always be Scully. Nelda Bond
July 26, 2008 at 4:24 pm
I loved the movie. It was funny at times and it was scary at times and I think it held true to the series. I loves the way Scully was fighting for her patient and the belief that she could save him and Mulder was fighting for the agent and the belief that he could save her. Both were trying to use experimental and unconventional methods.
July 26, 2008 at 4:45 pm
That movie was made poorly. Very slow paced. The story was pretty borinig and I'm getting real sick of the CSI/pedifile/torture theme. Too gross, too hip-hop culture, too boring.
My rating-5 yawns...
July 26, 2008 at 11:27 pm
Hey Chris Carter, why?
We don't deserve this, we've been waiting for so long to meet us again, to be hit and shocked and being transported beyond our senses.
Chris, we don't deserve this movie.
July 28, 2008 at 4:09 am
**one spoiler-ish comment
I loved this movie! Frankly I could've done without Amanda Peet (I actually cheered when she kicked it) as well as Xibit...
DD and GA still have it and their chemistry was great to watch. I loved it. It was geared more towards us shippers for once!
Thanks Chris Carter! I'll keep my fingers crossed for one more movie...
July 29, 2008 at 7:39 am
mildly spoilery comment, nothing you wouldn't learn from the imdb cast page and some stuff you might expect if you know the characters well.
By far the highlight of the movie was Skinner showing up. That was the only part I really thoroughly enjoyed and pretty much the only part that made me feel any emotion. Except maybe seeing Mulder's ceiling riddled with pencils. That was pretty adorable.
July 29, 2008 at 6:45 pm
*Spoilers*
I love The X-files but I am sorry to say that the movie was one long and crappy non-alien related episode. And I agree with Kaydria that Skinner showing up was the only moment I actually got exicted.
July 30, 2008 at 5:14 am
I want my hour and a half back too.
I waited SIX years for THIS? It wasn't even an X-File.
I was soo disappointed. I feel bad for DD, GA, Mulder and Scully. They deserved a far better script than that.
Kaydria, You read my mind! Those were the only two scenes I felt had any merit... and those were just nastalgia!
Shame on you Chris.
August 3, 2008 at 2:23 am
I can't believe some people think was a good or even ok movie. What the hell? But I guess everyone is entitled to their own opinion. I feel completely robbed and cheated, Chris Carter might as well have stood at the cinema and bobbed me over the head with a club and stolen my movie money.
The movie was horrendous. The acting was pathetic. I felt embarrassed for them, it was as if they had never been in front of a camera before. oh, I've very annoyed.
Also, the script was a secret, the movie title was a secret, the secret is there probably wasn't a script. And Chris Carter and Frank Sponitz made it up as they went along.
August 3, 2008 at 8:38 am
I would agree that its kinda like a mediocre episode. What some people fail to realize is that the show had many mediocre episodes, so this isn't exactly anything new. I think the only point of the movie is to set up that Mulder's never going to quit, and that Chris Carter needed a couple of bucks to make the next movie. As for this movie, I felt that there were two things that needed to happen for it to be a lot better. One, the pace could have been a bit quicker. Second, don't cast Xzibit. Anyone who calls himself that doesn't deserve to be in any movie that wants to be taken seriously, and he was the exceptionally bad performance in what was otherwise mediocre performances.
The stem cell research bit made me laugh, too.