Absolutely Anything |
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 • UK / USA • 2015 • 85m •   • Directed by: Terry Jones. • Starring: Simon Pegg, Kate Beckinsale, Sanjeev Bhaskar, Rob Riggle, Robert Bathurst, Eddie Izzard, Joanna Lumley, Marianne Oldham, Emma Pierson, Meera Syal, Mojo, Robin Williams, John Cleese. • Music by: George Fenton.    Disillusioned teacher Neill Clarke has been gifted with the power to do ̏absolutely anything̃ by aliens. With a simple wave of his hand he finds he can wipe out classrooms of badly behaving students, and bring people back to life. But he experiences mishap after mishap while struggling to master his new skills.
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The movie only comes to life whenever Neil is playing with his new found powers, because the rest of the character's background is just the same nice guy who doesn't get much of the luck he wanted. It's clearly not fresh, but with this idea, it could represent how an ordinary guy could make good use of this amazing ability. It doesn't necessarily have to be some low-key superhero, it's basically just trying to make his life cycle seem easier, but when the film demands to push the comedy to a different level, it's not bad enough, though it just doesn't leading anywhere until it reveals a villain to put the protagonist down and do some cartoony antics. There's nothing wrong with being over-the-top with its climax, but the environment is just not that appealing. It's just a collection of clichés and an obnoxious villain.
Though, the movie does make Neil use his powers for something that would benefit anyone else than his own pleasure, and it does represent some clever humor about the consequences of trying to solve the world's biggest problems that instantly. But this basically happens when he is finally giving up. The real missed opportunity here is the theme of how worthy a regular might have been for this choice, he does finally get aware about how absolute power could drive someone mad than just oppressed, but the movie doesn't get to explore that since it's too busy fooling around every once in a while. We could just assume that the aliens made a wrong random choice; but in this case, what's the point of his focus? He learned a lesson, but his aim is still not that interesting.
The acting is at least admirable; Simon Pegg is without a doubt charming for this role and even the shortcomings of this character would be outshined by this performance. Kate Beckinsale does fine in her role, even she isn't given enough reason to like. Rob Riggle does his Rob Riggle thing. At the voice cast; the Mighty Python crew does brought delight behind the aliens. And the late Robin Williams brings earnestness to a dog who is actually profane than he sounds.
Absolutely Anything does have the energy and mild imagination for its own idea, but there is nothing novel about the characters and the story for this supposedly interesting premise. Otherwise, it's just a bunch of craziness that aren't given enough inspired use for it. The performances did try to make it at least charming, but eventually there isn't much to deliver. There is nothing remarkable earned throughout that journey in the end, therefore it's just a forgettable set of goofiness.
Review by Mek Torres from the Internet Movie Database.
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Feb 23 2016, 23:35
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