Conspiracy Theory

with Mel Gibson, Julia Roberts, Patrick Stewart
Directed by Richard Donner
Written by Brian Helgeland
by Scott Hefflon

Hollywood certainly knows how to fuck up a well-written script. Paranoia and puppy love mix about as well as oil and water. Same with wacky, over-verbal, giddiness and Bondian spy-guy action. Gibson, surprisingly enough, wears the role of screwball theorist Jerry Fletcher well. Even more than in the early days of Lethal Weapon (same director, by the way), Conspiracy Theory brings out the manic comedy Gibson has the ability, though not usually the need, to deliver. As far as action goes, Conspiracy Theory staggers beneath its weight, a far cry from its successful cousin Jacob’s Ladder. Where the suspense, explosions, and slowly pieced-together flashbacks of Jacob’s Ladder drew you in to the madness, Conspiracy Theory fumbles with super action clichés that were obviously added on later for audience appeal, distracting and detracting fatally in the end. If you can ignore all the limp action and romance garnishes, Conspiracy Theory is a very enjoyable movie with exciting build ups, clever deceptive devises, a very likable lead, and a charming, if somewhat predictable, outcome.