Tanya Batson-Savage, Freelance Writer
Ashley Scott (left), Scott Caan (second left), Paul Walker (second right) and Jessica Alba in 'Into The Blue'. - CONTRIBUTED
SEE JESSICA Alba in a bathing suit. See Paul Walker in bath trunks. See Jessica Alba and Paul Walker jump into the deep blue sea. See some Hollywood executives attempt to pass this off as a flick of great action and suspense, which they have dubbed Into the Blue.
Written by Matt Johnson and directed by John Stockwell, Into the Blue is an inane flick that does not even have the decency to create an action flick that plays by numbers. It's a tale of the ultra bronzed and firm bodied; only limited acting skills (which Walker can barely muster up) is required.
Walker plays Jared, a diver with treasure on his mind, while Alba plays Sam, his girlfriend. The two team up with Bryce (Scott Caan) and Amanda (Ashley Scott). In a stroke of luck the four discover buried treasure, but then fall much deeper when drug dealers come into the picture. So, essentially, Into the Blue is the story four people with more abs than brains running amock in the Caribbean, attempting to plunder its depths for a quick buck.
That, alas, with American being interchangeable with European, is the story of the Caribbean.
THE POWER OF ABS
The most amazing thing about Into the Blue is that it actually got made. One can only think, behold the power of abs.
Speaking of abdominals, Tyson Beckford (Primo) also adds to the more-abs-than-acting-skills cast. His attempt at a Bahamian accent (which in one of the great film ironies sound's more Jamaican as he apparently got his islands crossed) is sure to give a laugh, even if nothing else does.
Walker is allowed way too much dialogue and pushes beyond the point where his monotone is tolerable. As he flits from one flick to the next (with barely a flicker to show that his character was supposed to have changed), he presents a living testament of how far washboard abdominals and a cute enough face can get one in Hollywood.
FEW GOOD POINTS
The flick is not all bad, because it has a few good points. Additionally, within a few moments it is clear that this flick is The Fast and the Furious: The Under the Sea Version. Of course, anyone who had seen the trailer should have known that going in. Alas, The Fast and the Furious had far more interesting stunts and many more beautiful pieces of machinery to keep one distracted from the fact that it was not a brilliant movie. All Into the Blue has is some beautiful under water footage, a few water ski stunts and one great shark bite. The rest of the flick could have been left for shark bait.
One can get a few laughs out of Into the Blue, but the flick is far more laughable than it is either action driven or funny.
