There's one thing you absolutely must understand about this movie: It was never intended to be taken seriously. Any belief to the contrary is immediately, emphatically squelched within the first seconds of the runtime, with ludicrously stylized opening credits and wildly overzealous camerawork greeting us in even just the first five minutes. Yes, just enough care was put into the production, including a fair amount of star power, to present an air of earnest intent. But 'Deep core' is built purely for over the top fun, and I feel sorry for anyone who can't recognize that approach and just enjoy themselves. Because with that one insight, this is honestly a super time!
"Over the top" and "deliberate" are absolutely the right terms to use, for they readily apply to every possible facet of the movie. The special effects, the dialogue, the characters, Richard McHugh's score (and a very unnecessary but very welcome MIDI rendition of 'Ride of the Valkyries'), the performances, Rodney McDonald's direction, the scene writing - and the narrative, unmistakably borrowed if not altogether plagiarized for overly self-serious 2003 blockbuster 'The core.' And so it is on down the line, including a passing sexist stereotype and jesting, marginally xenophobic undertones. Even the contributions of behind-the-scenes departments like costume design, and hair and makeup, border on cheekily overt.
I genuinely appreciate the screenplay concocted between Phillip J. Roth and Jim Christopher, which in the first place name-drops some general scientific concepts, only to fabricate a discretely unscientific plot therefrom - and which at all times and in all ways is never anything other than highfalutin, far-fetched, nonsensical entertainment. There's a clear, intentional through-line from the campy genre flicks of the 1950s to 'Deep core,' with further influence from disaster movies as old as 1933's 'Deluge' and as then-new as Michael Bay's 'Armageddon.' Why, it's worthwhile to further discuss these inspirations, because just as 'The core' impressed as an underground variation on 'Armageddon,' there are absolutely elements of Bay's bombastic ensemble piece here, particular in the characters. Furthermore, the 'Star Trek' alumni among the assembled actors are no mistake: we also get technobabble in the dialogue, exterior shots of the computer-generated vehicle, and set design for the vehicle's interior that all call to mind adventures in the Final Frontier. We even get shaky cam, and the "Star trek shimmies!"
And I love it.
As suggested, there are some very familiar names in this cast, and more familiar faces. Terry Farrell, Wil Wheaton, Bruce McGill, Donald Li, James Russo, and even Craig Sheffer are all known actors, and good ones at that, each with a swell list of credits. I know what they're capable of, and so were the producers - and their skills in this instance mean wholeheartedly embracing the pomposity, and every embellishment to their characters' personalities. No one involved in 'Deep core' had any illusions about the type of movie they were making, and I can only imagine that each day on set was more fun than work. The good humor in the players' portrayals is communicated with high fidelity to the audience - I may be jaded and cynical, but even I can see the dexterous combination of sincerity and bluster that marks the acting.
Any viewer who isn't receptive to the distinct flavors in this kitschy feast is best served dining elsewhere from the beginning. Thankfully, as stated, it's from the very beginning that the title tells us exactly what to anticipate - and just in case we missed the memo, that tack is accentuated once more as end credits role, with each most prominent cast member shown one-by-one in a moment of off-the-cuff levity during filming. And with that, any reservations I may have had are completely washed away: I had mixed expectations at best as I started watching, but with the rapid perception of what the filmmakers were doing, I just as quickly gained a great enthusiasm for the feature. 'Deep core' wears its heart and its forebears on its sleeve, with no pretense otherwise, and that's exactly the kind of low-grade cinematic experience I can get behind. For sure, this isn't going to be for everyone, but I feel bad for those who so profoundly misunderstand it such that it earned so poor a reception. I, for one, find 'Deep core' to be a gratifyingly lighthearted piece of sci-fi tomfoolery, and a very satisfying one at that. I think this is well worth the less than 90 minutes it takes to watch, and is most recommendable for anyone who enjoys the genres and various influences it upholds so proudly.
Two thumbs up from me!
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