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It's Hard To Believe In New 'X-Files' Movie

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By KEVIN WALKER

The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 24, 2008

Fox Mulder wants to believe in the paranormal. And fans certainly want to believe there is still life in "The X-Files," a hit series that ran on Fox from 1993-2002.

Unfortunately, Chris Carter doesn't believe in writing and directing a movie with a) a sensible plot or b) a discernible climax.

After sitting through this movie, you might find yourself asking: What was the point? That is, other than demonstrating that David Duchovny (who portrays Mulder) and Gillian Anderson (who portrays his partner, Dana Scully) still look good arguing in the dark?

Carter, creator of the popular "The X-Files" series and director of this film (as well as co-writer), had six years to come up with a movie that would best showcase his creation. Didn't happen. You might actually find yourself wishing for the return of the infamous "black oil aliens" from the first film (and the series). After all, if you're going to write trippy gobbledygook, it might as well be about an intergalactic conspiracy.

On the television series, Mulder portrayed an FBI agent who investigates cases involving paranormal activity. He is teamed with Scully, a doctor who disbelieves tales of the paranormal. That was one of the series' running subplots - he wanted to believe and she didn't. Just the opposite was true about matters of religious faith, where she struggled constantly to balance her Catholic upbringing and beliefs with the rational world of medicine.

The other running subplot was that they had fallen in love.

In this film, the two are still together but have left the FBI. Scully practices medicine at a Catholic hospital. Mulder spends his days isolated in their rural home, clipping newspaper articles about the paranormal and pinning them to the wall, next to his old "I Want To Believe" poster from his FBI office.

The movie opens as an FBI agent is kidnapped in rural West Virginia. A former priest - and pedophile - named Father Joseph Crissman believes he is having visions about the kidnapping. Is he telling the truth? FBI agent Dakota Whitney (Amanda Peet) calls in Mulder to help, and he in turn asks Scully to help him. There's also a subplot involving Scully trying to save the life of a boy with a rare illness.

The investigation proceeds, but slowly. Naturally, it is Mulder's instincts that provide the big break when he happens to stop at the right gas station at just the right time. The pace is slowed considerably by repeated conversations between Mulder and Scully about the hobgoblins haunting his mind, or the hobgoblins haunting her mind, or just hobgoblins in general. And slowly the plot moves further and further into that ambigious, mystical realm where Carter was always at his worst.

Hardcore fans will enjoy all the little things in the movie, like the quick glimpse of Carter or the names on Mulder's cell phone. But even they may find themselves disappointed that Carter has missed yet another big opportunity.

MOVIE REVIEW

The X-Files: I Want

To Believe **

MOVIE BOARD RATING: PG-13; violent and disturbing content and thematic material

STARS: David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Amanda Peet, Xzibit, Billy Connolly

DIRECTOR: Chris Carter

LOCATION: See movie times, Page 8, for local showtimes.

PLOT SUMMARY: Mulder and Scully reunite to investigate mysterious disappearances in rural West Virginia.

RUNNING TIME: 112 minutes

ON THE WEB: www.xfiles.com

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