I have to say from the start I am a fan of Bruce Willis, I think he is one of the few actors that has a sort of on-screen presence. So even if a film is a dull as dish water, just him being a part of it can raise the bar slightly as far as I am concerned. It happened with this film, although the concept was interesting it lost it's way - though the film came across better for having Bruce as the lead.

The premise is that everybody has a surrogate, which in effect is a robot, that you control from the comfort of your own home. Now that part I thought was quite interesting. What sort of lets it down is that people utilise these robots to do the mundane, go to work and shopping for example. This is for no other reason, it appears, than their reluctance to get dressed and go out of their apartments. Seems in the future we will all become sufferers of Agoraphobia.

The original concept of the surrogates by the inventor is to help people with disabilities and I can see that as a worthwhile use. But it has been hijacked and utilised by everybody. Though the idea that people would use them for the mundane day to day activities I find a little bizarre, unless there is a good reason. Even people that play RPGMMO's tend for the most part to escape from everyday life. They become something else or somebody else. So while I could understand using surrogates to fight wars, play out fantasies... I found it hard to think people would live through these creations on a constant basis.

The film lacks any major plot, we have a murder and the FBI investigate. Apparently this is the first murder in x number of years, crime due to the surrogates is non-existent. So here we have Tom Greer (Bruce) investigating the crime and this leads him to venturing outside of his apartment for the first time in years. The film is basically about exposing the reason for the murder, but at the same time gives an insight into how surrogates have had an effect on life in general. In particular on the life of Tom and his wife. This little subplot that goes on in this film is actually better than the main plot.

There are some decent action scenes and the films flows along reasonably well. But what kind of let's it down for me is just the whole idea. For me it didn't work, but then I have never played a game like the Sims so perhaps it is me that is disconnected from the concept.

There are no amazing performances or anything of note happening in this film. Though the person I watched the film with, who didn't quite get the concept at first, thought Bruce Willis had undergone a face lift. Mainly because he plays his own surrogate, which is a sort of younger better looking version of him in reality. That comment in itself made me think the concept was perhaps not that clear or hadn't been explained that well within the film itself.

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The Good:

Interesting concept overall.

Bruce Willis plays a good part and has a decent supporting cast, Radha Mitchell, James Cromwell, Ving Rhames, Rosamund Pike..

The Bad:

Explanation of the concept possibly could have been clearer.

The Ugly:

Lacked something, either the concept was too complex or it wasn't pushed far enough. Would we all look like supermodels if we have the option of a surrogate? I doubt it, personally I would look like the Incredible Hulk, or be a woman with four breasts, a man with two.. you get the idea. Seems like it was a limited insight into the possibilities that were available. I am sure people would mod stuff like this in outrageous ways.