Most of Keanu Reeves' performances have had a spacey quality to them, which is obviously the reason why filmmakers cast him as an extraterrestrial in the remake of "The Day the Earth Stood Still."
But he also has a cold, aloof quality, which is a trait shared with this supposedly cerebral and less than enthralling science-fiction thriller.
It wants to impart the same doom-and-gloom environmental and ecological protection message that its prescient 1951 predecessor — as well as this summer's clunker "The Happening" — did.
However, this film does it very clumsily, and the general feel of the movie is so chilly that it's unappealing. In fact, the whole thing resembles a bad episode of TV's "The X-Files."
Reeves stars as Klaatu, an alien visitor who's just arrived on Earth in a huge glowing orb that's landed in the middle of New York's Central Park.
Klaatu claims to have peaceful intentions, but overzealous U.S. Army troops have shot and wounded this apparently humanoid, extraterrestrial life-form.
Worse, he's held captive by U.S. government officials who believe he's a harbinger of doom. But he escapes with help from Helen Benson (Jennifer Connelly), an astrobiologist who believes Klaatu when he says he needs to deliver a message to all of mankind.
Director Scott Derrickson ("The Exorcism of Emily Rose") and screenwriter David Scarpa ("The Last Castle") try to mimic the more thoughtful style of the original movie and use some the Harry Bates short story that inspired it. But their version of the tale has its share of gaping plot holes and nonsensical moments.
It also has two very icy leads. You can understand why Reeves seems so detached and emotionless, but Connelly almost appears to be sleepwalking.
Of course, maybe that's a response to the irksome supporting performance of Jaden Smith, who plays Helen's whiny and obnoxious stepson.
"The Day the Earth Stood Still" is rated PG-13 and features some strong violent content (gunplay, shootings, explosive and vehicular mayhem, and some child-in-peril elements), some gore and alien goo, scattered mild profanity, and some drug content and references (sedatives, anesthetics and use of a hypodermic needle). Running time: 103 minutes.
E-MAIL: jeff@desnews.com