Review: Into the Blue


Idealistic adventurers (and lovers) Paul Walker and Jessica Alba live in the Bahamas on a crummy boat searching for treasure. Along comes Walker’s unscrupulous lawyer buddy Scott Caan and his girlfriend-of-the-week (the extremely cute Ashley Scott, who seems miscast) hoping to go diving with Walker and Alba. There they find the possible wreckage of a mythical ship known as the Zephyr. Complications come by way of sharks, and a crashed plane full of drugs nearby that baddies Tyson Beckford and James Frain are looking for. Then there’s Walker’s friendly (but very competitive) rival Josh Brolin, who has money up to yin yang and is always sniffing around, possibly having designs on Alba.



Scenic 2005 John Stockwell (the disappointing “Blue Crush”) film, essentially a remake of “The Deep” is a pretty movie about pretty people doing pretty much bugger all except looking pretty in pretty surroundings. For what it is, it’s actually pretty good. I especially appreciated all the shots of Jessica Alba’s toned body, and I guess many will appreciate the same about the shots of the late Walker’s bod. Actually, the likeable duo, whilst not especially good actors, have found just about the right vehicle here, with Scott Caan providing amusingly sleazy comic relief. Brolin isn’t terribly outstanding, but fits in quite well nonetheless. And the whole thing is just very watchable trash.



The only complaint I have is that there are too many villains, with at least two who are introduced and dispatched within minutes. But who cares about them, when there’s sun, beautiful waters, and Jessica Alba? Scripted by Matt Johnson (“Torque”), this is guilty pleasure time, folks. I can’t really explain why I liked it in any credible way, by all means I shouldn’t have. I guess that’s why they call ‘em guilty pleasures!



Rating: B-

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