Chain Reaction (2007, Blu-ray Disc)

You would think that with a promising storyline of visionary scientists discovering an alternative, cheap energy source in plain water that s been sonoluminesced, an actual scientific phenomenon (read http://www.aip.org/physnews/preview/1996/chain/ by the Amercan Institute of Physics for more info), then the rest of the plot would also fascinate with its vision. Alas, tis but a dream! After Eddie, the University of Chicago student scientist/machinist, makes the Hydrogen Fuel Project a stunning success, disagreement over what to do with their discovery leads to a chain reaction of standard-issue action fare in the midst of a downright confusing story in Summer 1996 s Chain Reaction.

Eddie (a scruffy Keanu Reeves, My Own Private Idaho) makes another discovery. The inspiring founder of the project has been murdered so that the lab, filmed at Argonne National Laboratory outside Chicago, may be destroyed and Eddie can only save himself barely by jumping on his motorcycle to try to outrun the ensuing fireball that decimates eight blocks of South Chicago. It s a thrilling enough sequence that will remind you of several other movies like Mission: Impossible and Independence Day.

The FBI, led by probing Agent Ford (Fred Ward, Sweet Home Alabama), is called in by the President to investigate and soon Eddie and a beautiful co-worker, a physicist quite charmingly captured by Rachel Weisz (The Mummy), find they ve been framed for it. Yep, the FBI is that easily duped-it looks like they re into espionage! They make a run for it, get separated when Eddie is recognized from TV, Eddie has a well-done foot chase down Michigan Avenue that gets tricky on a bridge that is separating and rising, the fugitives meet up again and for another hour or so are pursued by good (or confused) and bad cops and scientists.

Morgan Freeman s character, Paul Shannon, seems just as confused as you can get. He runs the non-profit organization that sponsors the University project with industrialists and engineers on its board that the government doesn t know about, living in total luxury on his estate, and says he is Eddie s friend. But is he? Who masterminded the incident and frame-up?

Surely it couldn t be Shannon who doesn t want the FBI investigating him, right?

Wellll, I m just going to say that Mid Eastern terrorists would have made a lot of sense because they were threatened by a cheap alternative to petroleum. Instead we are supposed to believe that such a fuel, while preventing wars and pollution, would cause economic disaster and must be contained and introduced slowly. Oh, I don t think so. The world needs saving now and terrorists left high and dry. If there s a natural, cheap alternative energy source, maybe nanotechnology, solar power or whatever, it should be fully used to keep the world safe and more healthy.

Keanu and Rachel made a fun couple on the run, taking care of each other when foes or hypothermia would strike. Once they escaped in an ice boat and gave their hunters the slip. Another time Keanu dodged capture by climbing over a science museum plane exhibit while Lily was caught, drugged and driven away. He noted the license plate number, though, which led to the climatic, though convoluted, ending. Exciting stuff, but I wish they had kissed just once with the several chances they had. They did like each other very much, it was obvious.

Now I m a Keanu fan, and Rachel now, too. I could enjoy this realistic-looking science fiction, action thriller with its lack of vision because of them, but if you re a Morgan Freeman fan, you should skip this one. If he could expunge it from his resume, he probably would! He comes off looking so foolish. The flat, idiotic ending with him left me dumbfounded.

It s really a shame director Andrew Davis (The Fugitive) didn t pay more attention to what he was directing besides the chase scenes. Arne Schmidt, Rick Seaman and Josh Friedman wrote the story and J.F. Lawton and Michael Bortman, screenwriters, take responsibility for Chain Reaction s missing links. At an hour and forty-seven minutes, this movie moves right along mindlessly for the most part, but after the first thirty minutes you d better be a Keanu or Rachel (or Argonne National Laboratory employee/extra) fan to enjoy this escapade.