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Washed-up
sci-fi action hero actor Rex Anderson, whose only claim to
movie fame is that he's portrayed Kommander 88 in all of the
Cyxork movies, and struggling filmmaker Angela LaSalle, whose
never really directed a movie before, are thrust together
to film Cyxork 7. This, the latest sequel in a haggard
sci-fi franchise has a new twist. The production will benefit
from some free special effects thanks to the fact that they
are shooting at the epicentre of a predicted cataclysmic earthquake.
While Anderson wants to revive his career and LaSalle is desperate
to make a name for herself in the movie industry, will the
two really risk their lives in order to grab Hollywood's attention?...
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Cyxork
7 stars Ray Wise (Twin Peaks, Robocop) as
washed up actor Rex Anderson - whose known to thousands of
fans as sci-fi action star Kommander 88 in the long running,
and rather poor, Cyxork series of movies. Having fallen
on hard times (he's living in a bus with his pregnant wife)
Anderson is now banking on the publicity of shooting the latest
sequel to the faltering Cyxork sci-fi franchise during
a predicted massive earthquake.
The
Cyxork series has hit hard times. The only people who
are still watching are the hard-core fans but will they want
to see this new movie? It's doubtful as, for some bizarre
reason, the studio heads have decided to employ a new director
called Angela LaSalle, whose previous gigs have been a lot
more artistic. This will be her first feature film and she
wants to make a name for herself. However, the fans don't
want art, they want to see Anderson kill someone, or thing,
every few minutes. The production is way behind schedule and
Anderson wants LaSalle out, but his move misfires - they both
get fired and the movie is shut down.
Cyxork
7 is part comedy, part social commentary and part two
fingers up to the Hollywood machine. Parallels
are bound to be drawn between this and Galaxy Quest
- simply because it concerns an ageing sci-fi actor who has
done nothing with his career thanks to the fact that he has
been stereotyped as a sci-fi action hero.
Ray
Wise is not known for his comedy roles - having said that,
he is in the lucky position of having a varied career in which
he has not been typecast in any one role - and it is a credit
to his skill as an actor, not to mention a credit to the casting
director for having vision enough to foresee his potential,
that he jumps in with both feet and makes this character work.
In fact, I can't think of anyone else who would have brought
this particular role to life with the same spark.
It's great to see Wise play a typecast and naive actor, especially
when his own career is anything but.
You also have to admire the way he can deliver intentionally
awful lines with enough conviction that you're actually not
sure whether they are bad or not - the most obvious example
being: "I loved you before I ever saw you." Full
marks to the script writer for coming up with that gem. And
as for his on-screen love scene - possibly the most embarrassing
movie moment of modern times and a hoot to boost.
Sonya
Smith plays the naive, artistic director who is way out of
her depth working with a star like Anderson. She doesn't know
the Cyxork series as well as her star, and while she
wants to add a little bit of artistic flair in to the movie,
Anderson is more interested in giving his fans what they want
- that and making sure he gets to kiss a beautiful damsel
in distress.
While
Wise's Anderson character and Smith's LaSalle are the stars
of the show, this movie benefits greatly from the fact that
it is an ensemble piece that thrusts all of the characters
into the limelight at various points in the production.
Cassandra
Creech [pictured right] is perfect as the beautiful love interest
for Anderson character in the movie. I know we'll be seeing
more of her in the future.
Beata
Pozniak (who Babylon 5 fans may recall guest starred
as President Susanna Luchenko in the episode Rising Star)
is convincingly scary as Anderson's power crazy and materialistic
wife. She plays the role with an animal like coldness - mainly
down to the fact that she is pregnant and trying to protect
the future of her and Rex's unborn child. Rex himself is little
more than a lost child, constantly told what to do - whether
that be at home, by his wife, or in the work environment,
by his directors.
Greg
Proops and Rebecca Corry [pictured left] open up the movie
as Rob Berdash and Heather Binge - GNN's (Generic News Network)
cool reporters. Their entertainment bulletins are peppered
with foul language in a parody of near future hip news reporting.
They use shock tactics to grab the viewers attention, but
even they are surprised at how far the Cyxork 7 crew
are going in order to film their latest movie.
Roberto
Bacalski is also fantastic as the over the top and rather
twisted Clever Bill Emory. He's a little unhinged and thinks
nothing of patronising his staff - to the point you just want
to smash his face in. It's his money that is financing
Cyxork 7 and he cares nothing for the people behind the
project, just the money. It's a shame his role wasn't a little
larger as he really is a comic genius.
In
all honesty, there isn't one bad performance here. Some may
think that Pozniak's acting is a little over the top, but
her character is a little unhinged (hell, she's loopy) and
I loved her over exaggerated trademark hair flick. I know,
I know, you're asking: "How can you overact a hair flick?"
Well she does, somehow, and it looks fantastic.
The
end result is a extremely satisfying movie with some hilarious
laugh out loud moments. If you don't split your sides laughing
at the shock fate that befalls one of the crew then you probably
don't have a sense of humour.
In
a time when Hollywood is turning out dull CGI flicks with
little or no plot, it's great to see that there are studios
out there that will back projects that still have some character
and really go for the balls. Funny, refreshingly original
and a damn fine script, mean that is certainly at the top
of my "must see" list of movies this year. Cyxork
7 is not to be missed.
Darren
Rea
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