Surrogates : Movie Review


There are preposterous movies that march along with grim determination, unaware of their own ridiculousness (Exhibit A: "Terminator Salvation.") And then there are preposterous movies that luxuriate in their own silliness, sinking deep into the loopy foam of their own bubble bath. "Surrogates" -- which was directed by Jonathan Mostow, who also made the 1997 thriller "Breakdown," as well as, interestingly enough, the 2003 "Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines" -- falls into the latter category. In "Surrogates," set in the not-so-distant future, human beings no longer need to leave their homes to work, to go to the gym, even to hang out with friends. Instead, they put on their comfy bathrobes and jammy bottoms, lie down on special couches and stick a highly advanced version of those plastic sun-protector thingies onto their eyelids. Outfitted thus, they're able to control, via brainwaves, the actions of their "surrogates," robot creatures that are often -- though not always -- younger, better-dressed, more well-toned versions of themselves. The woman surrogates wear glossy, Dolly Parton-style wigs, favor fitted, low-cut evening suits (for day) in Jujube colors, and march through their daily business with their firm, pointy boobs jutting skyward, à la the Fembots in the "Austin Powers" movies. The men -- well, they just have hair. Everyone has poreless skin that resembles latex coated with a fine mist of foundation delivered by airbrush.

See www.salon.com for full review

Author : Stephanie Zacharek